The by-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, August 16, 2025, across 12 states of the federation was fraught with serious challenges ranging from violence and vote-buying to technical hitches and delays in the uploading of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Arrests and Violence
One of the most notable incidents occurred in Kano State, where security operatives arrested nearly 288 suspected thugs in connection with electoral violence during polls held in two constituencies. Reports from other states also indicated incidents of intimidation, harassment, and clashes involving party supporters, particularly in Enugu, Anambra, and Kaduna. In some areas, vigilante groups armed with dane guns and sticks reportedly patrolled streets, creating fear among voters and disrupting polling activities.
Technical Hitches and Delayed Result Uploads
Election observers expressed deep concern over the inability of INEC to achieve full upload of results on the IReV portal within 72 hours after the polls. According to Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), only four of the 16 constituencies where by-elections were held and two of the rerun constituencies had recorded 100% result uploads by August 19, three days after the elections.
Observers compared this poor performance to the Ondo governorship election of November 2024, where INEC successfully uploaded 97% of results by 9:30 PM on Election Day. KDI stressed that failure to achieve complete uploads within two days undermines transparency and could compromise the integrity of the electoral process, especially when certificates of return are issued before all results are published.
Yiaga Africa, another civil society group, criticized the development, warning that IReV’s role in Nigeria’s electoral process is being watered down. They emphasized that comprehensive transparency requires all polling unit results—including canceled ones (Form EC40G)—to be uploaded so citizens can verify reasons for cancellations such as over-voting.
Vote-Buying and Electoral Malpractice
KDI further reported widespread cases of vote-buying across multiple polling units. Voters were allegedly induced with cash ranging from ₦4,000 upwards, alongside food and other material items. A particularly striking incident involved the arrest of a suspected vote-buyer found with over ₦25 million in Kaduna State.
The organization argued that such practices weaken Nigeria’s democracy by depriving citizens of their freedom to choose leaders independently.
Late Commencement and Logistical Challenges
Observers noted late commencement of voting in several states including Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, and Zamfara. Although the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned effectively in most places and strengthened voter confidence, challenges such as low battery life, device freezes, and biometric capture failures accounted for about 3.5% of the issues reported.
Despite INEC’s swift interventions in some cases, these delays contributed to voter apathy and frustration.
Results and Party Performance
INEC declared the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) victorious in 10 of the 12 states where the elections were held, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Oyo and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) triumphed in Anambra. The election in Zamfara, however, was declared inconclusive.
Public Distrust and Future Concerns
Civil society organizations expressed concern that the by-election further eroded public trust in the electoral system. Yiaga Africa argued that lessons from the 2023 general elections had not been implemented, pointing to recurring issues such as voter apathy, vote-buying, and violence. They stressed that Nigerians are losing confidence in INEC’s ability to deliver transparent elections.
KDI described the exercise as “another litmus test” of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that selective transparency in result management could jeopardize public faith in future polls.
Call for Reform in Appointment of Next INEC Chairman
As the tenure of the current INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, winds down later in 2025, groups such as Yiaga Africa have renewed calls for reforms in the appointment of his successor.
They recommended that the next Chairman must be a person of unquestionable integrity, with no partisan background, and with proven expertise in election management. Yiaga also advocated for an open and transparent appointment process where citizens can make inputs during the National Assembly’s screening exercise.
Conclusion
The August 16 by-election highlighted systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral process, including violence, malpractice, technical lapses, and lack of transparency. With the 2027 general elections approaching, observers insist that INEC must urgently address these challenges to restore public confidence, strengthen democracy, and ensure credible elections.
