Large scale vote buying and voter apathy characterised the by-elections held across the country yesterday.
Our correspondents report that security operatives arrested a suspected party agent with over N25.9 million cash, allegedly meant to compromise the election in Kaduna State.
The suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was apprehended around 3:30am on Saturday in a popular hotel along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis by the police and Department of State Services (DSS), working in collaboration with other security agencies.
Spokesman of the police command, DSP Mansir Hassan, in a statement, said a total of ₦25,963,000 was recovered from the suspect, believed to be earmarked for inducing voters in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency election.
DSP Hassan explained that Patangi confessed during interrogation that the money was intended for bribing eligible voters and pleaded for leniency.
The commissioner of police, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the synergy among security agencies, stressing that anyone caught attempting to undermine the electoral process, regardless of political status, would face the full wrath of the law.
He assured that security had been tightened across all flashpoints to guarantee free, fair and credible polls.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State expressed deep concern over the conduct of the election in Shanono/Bagwai constituency, saying it was characterised by intimidation and thuggery.
The state party chairman, Hon. Yusuf Ado Kibiya, raised the concern while briefing newsmen on his observation of the electoral process in the area.
According to him, the death of the former representative had already placed a heavy burden on the constituents who deserve a transparent, peaceful and credible process instead of violence.
He said the use of violence or the threat to influence voters or the outcome of the election was unacceptable and must be condemned, noting that such act does not only endanger lives but destroys public trust in democratic institutions.
“We reject the behaviour observed from some quarters which we believe is aimed at bending the electoral process to the advantage of particular interest,” he stated.
He urged INEC to ensure a level playing field for all 10 party candidates, including the PDP.
The election for Garki/Babura Federal Constituency in Jigawa State was conducted peacefully, though with low voter turnout.
It featured candidates from the APC, PDP, and NNPP and was keenly contested.
All participating political parties expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by INEC and the security measures implemented to ensure full compliance with electoral guidelines.
At the time of filing this report, vote collation was ongoing at various ward centers, while the returning officer awaited the final results at the INEC headquarters in Babura local government area.
Voter apathy and BIVAS machines which failed to capture faces of elderly voters was part of the sordid tales that marred the House of Representatives by-election for Ikenne, Remo North and Sagamu Federal Constituency of Ogun State and Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election.
In Ogun, the development came on the heels of mid-afternoon’s sporadic gunshots and ballot box snatching that also ruptured the exercise in Iperu Remo, the hometown of the incumbent governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
At the Igan/Ajina polling unit 16, ward 2 in Remo North Local Government, there were 445 registered voters at the centre but as of 11:am when LEADERSHIP Sunday visited, only 64 voters turned out and were accredited to vote, while the BIVAS machine also encountered challenges in identifying elderly voters.
One of such elderly voters was 70-year old Sobanke Fassasi, who lamented his inability to cast vote for the candidate of his choice due to the failure of the BIVAS machine to recognise him despite repeated trials at the Wesley School Isara 2, Polling Unit 006 and Polling Unit 005 in Moborode/ Oke – Ola area of Remo North where voters turnout was also poor.
This was attested to by a female corps member handling the BIVAS who told newsmen that the machine was failing to recognise elderly voters, even as our reporter witnessed the BIVAS machine’s failure to identify Pa Fassasi after several unsuccessful trials.
Low turnout of voters was also recorded at Ajegunle ward 6, Polling Unit 1 in Ogere, Ikenne local government area, as well as Polling Unit 005, Town Planning in Ilisan 1, where 953 was recorded as registered voters but 98 recorded as accredited voters for the bye – election that would end at 2: 30pm.
Meanwhile, at the Wesley Nursery & Primary School in Iperu, Polling Unit 04 and Polling Unit 05, in Iperu 3 Area of Ikenne Local Government, where the government candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 election, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu usually cast his vote, only 123 voters turned out and were accredited to vote out of the 750 registered voters as contained in the INEC’s register as at 12: 03pm when LEADERSHIP Sunday visited.
Our correspondent also observed that the former PDP governorship candidate, Adebutu was yet to arrive for voting as at 12: 43p.m.
The election, which commenced peacefully as at 8: 30a.m. however assumed a dangerous dimension mid-afternoon when armed hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, stormed the Wesley Nursery & Primary School in Iperu Remo and started shooting sporadically.
The armed thugs, numbering about six, masked in hoods on two motorcycles popularly called “okada’ started shooting their dane guns, thereby forcing accredited voters on the queue and journalists to scamper for safety, while they had a free day carting away the ballot boxes.
The state commissioner of Ppolice, Lanre Ogunlowo, denied knowledge of the arrest of a PDP chieftain who was allegedly caught with an undisclosed sum of money at an hotel in Iperu-Remo.
When contacted, CP Ogunlowo said the command was investigating the purported arrest of the state chairman of the PDP, Abayomi Tella and two staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Toryem Joe-Stans and Mandara Amina Mamman allegedly arrested in connection with the huge amount of money suspected to be for vote buying.
The CP said, “We are investigating the matter, that’s how much I can say for now, you may please call back later in the day for further information.”
In Oyo the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election started on a shaky note as only a few voters turned out at polling centres.
The election followed the death of Olajide Akinremi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on July 10.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived as early as 7:30 a.m. at various polling centres, but voter presence was scanty.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed the arrest and detention of two individuals identified to be officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for being in possession of an unexplained sum of N2, 500, 000 during the conduct of the Remo Federal Constituency by-election.
The suspects, identified as Toryem Joe-Stans (male) and Ms. Mandara Aminat were intercepted at about 00: 45hrs by the Police patrol team attached to Iperu Remo Division while transporting the money to a yet-to-be-declared destination on the morning of the election day.
A statement issued Saturday afternoon by the command’s spokesperson, Omolola Odutola said the duo of Toryem and Mandara were intercepted alongside their driver who was conveying them in a Mitsubishi Spacewagon with registration number LAGOS AKD 887 HT.
“A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the cash sum of two million five hundred thousand naira (₦2,500,000.00) from Mr. Joe-Stans Toryem”.
Odutola further explained that Toryem has since in a confessional statement obtained from him, confessed to collecting the money “at Kehoy Hotel, Iperu, Ogun State, from a man he referred to as “Political Solution”, acting on the directive of his supervisor”.
The PPRO’s statement as however, negated the rumour earlier circulating in the state that the purported arrest was that of the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abayomi Tella and two other INEC staff.
Odutola however, disclosed further that the command’s Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligent (SCIID) in Eleweran, for discreet investigation and possible prosecution.
Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC raised alarm over the deployment of thugs carrying dangerous weapons allegedly to intimidate voters.
A statement by the APC spokesman, Yusuf Idris Gusau, issued to newsmen in Gusau said the claim was supported by the movement and deployment of the said thugs to Kaura Namoda local government area where the by-election took place.
Results from some polling units in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency election showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning in some of the polling units visited
At Polling Unit 025, Mahuta 1 in Rido Ward, out of 1,282 accredited voters, APC polled 62 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 26. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) got 11 votes, with one invalid ballot recorded.
In Polling Unit 017, Mayere High Cost, APC again led with 28 votes, while PDP managed 4. The ADC and Labour Party (LP) scored 4 and 5 votes respectively.
At Polling Unit 002, LEA Primary School, Narayi, APC scored 26 votes, PDP followed with 15, while ADC had 4 and LP polled 10.
Similarly, in Polling Unit 024 of the same Narayi Primary School, APC got 44 votes, PDP 33, LP 8 and ADC 6.
Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, cast his vote in the Edo Central Senatorial By-election.
Okpebholo, however, expressed concern over the slow performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) at his voting unit.
The governor arrived at Ward 2, Unit 1, Udomi Primary School in Esan Central local government area at about 9:45 a.m. where he was accredited before casting his vote at exactly 9:52 a.m.
Speaking with journalists, he said although the exercise was peaceful, BVAS machines deployed by INEC were causing delays.
“Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration. The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited. I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the feelers I’m getting are good,” he said.
The deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, commended the turnout of voters for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat.
Idahosa voted at Unit 3, Old Education Board, Iguobazuwa West Ward, Ovia South West local government area.
He described the process as seamless, peaceful and encouraging.
“So far, everything is going well. We are expecting free, fair and credible elections. Ovia people will be happy with the outcome. The turnout is impressive. More voters should come out and vote and shun violence,” the deputy governor said.
In Okada West Ward Unit 1,4 and 6, voters were seen on the queue waiting to cast their votes.
Earlier in the day, reports from polling units across Irrua and Uromi indicated that accreditation commenced around 8 a.m. with voters turning out early.
At Eguare Primary School, Irrua, a voter, Mr. Frank Obehi, voted at exactly 8:37 a.m. and described the process as smooth and peaceful.
The Edo Central Senatorial by-election was to fill the vacant senatorial seat following the emergence of Okpebholo ad Edo State governor.
