Violence and Low Voter Turnout Hit By-elections in Enugu and Kebbi

Violence and voter intimidation affected Saturday’s by-election in Enugu State, while Kebbi State saw a low turnout during the event.

The election went smoothly in Ondo, Rivers, and Nasarawa states. But the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Kano State reported that some members were attacked during the voting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission announced by-elections in several states to fill vacant seats in the National and State Assemblies.

A total of 68 positions were contested, including six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions in the FCT council election.

In Rivers State, by-elections took place in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State constituencies to fill vacancies left by resignations and deaths of sitting legislators.

Elections were also held in Kano Municipal with 330,228 voters across 630 polling units, and in Ungogo Constituency with 205,418 voters across 384 polling units.

This followed the deaths of two members of the State House of Assembly.

In Enugu State, a party agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, known as Justice, said a government official came to a polling unit with thugs and attacked him.

Justice, who shared his experience at Umuodo Hall in Ogwu, said he was punched repeatedly until he fell. Women who came to vote at the polling unit started crying.

Justice, now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, claimed he was assaulted for refusing to leave his polling unit where he served as a PDP agent.

He said the government official, described as a commissioner, told him that no opposition party would be allowed to get votes there and then joined in the attack.

In a video seen by our correspondent, Justice said, “I went to the polling unit where I was posted as party agent of PDP at Umuodo Village Hall in Ogwu. When I got there, the government official asked what I came there to do.

“He bluntly told me that he didn’t want to see me there. Shortly, he started brutalising me; kicking, hitting and punching me all over my body. Another thug came and knocked me down. All the women who came to vote at the polling unit started crying, asking why I should be treated in this way.

“The government official himself joined in the attack. He started choking me and tore the PDP agent tag I wore on my neck. There was no presence of security agencies when they brought the electoral materials,” Justice, who had a bandage on his head, said.

In the video, a man was heard saying, “Anybody who is not voting for APC should leave the polling unit. I have told them. If you are not voting APC, leave this polling unit, whether you like it or not.”

Neither the APC nor security agencies had officially responded to the video, which showed voter intimidation, as of the time of this report.

In Nsukka Local Government Area, the PDP Ward Chairman for Ibagwa Ani, Ezema Ejike Eric, also claimed he was attacked by armed thugs.

BVAS Issues Disrupt Election

Still in Enugu State, the by-election for Enugu North Senatorial District faced technical problems, delays in election materials, and allegations of voter intimidation.

One major issue occurred at Iheaka Central School in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, where the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System failed to capture the fingerprint of the APC candidate, Chief Ikeje Asogwa.

Despite multiple attempts by election officials, the device could not accredit the candidate, but voting continued at the polling unit.

Asogwa later voted at another polling center and praised INEC and security agencies for keeping peace during the election.

“I commend INEC and the voters for the peaceful election. I am confident in the APC’s chances at the poll, although there was a technical glitch earlier as the BVAS couldn’t recognise my fingerprint,” he said.

But the election faced reports of delays in the arrival of electoral materials in parts of Udenu Local Government Area.

At several polling centers in Orba, Imilike, and Udunedem communities, voters waited for hours before election officials arrived.

Former governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s polling unit at Amube Orba was also among the places where election materials had not arrived several hours after voting was meant to begin.

The PDP candidate, Dr Nestor Ezeme, who eventually voted around noon, slammed what he called widespread disenfranchisement.

Ezeme also accused hoodlums of disrupting voting in parts of Obollo Afor and stealing election materials.

The PDP candidate claimed that electoral authorities failed to send officials and security personnel to many polling centers on time.

Another incident that caught public attention was a viral video showing a man identified as an APC supporter telling voters who did not want to support the party to leave a polling unit in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area.

Low Voter Turnout in Kebbi

In Kebbi State, the Zuru State Constituency by-election went on smoothly in the 200 polling units in Zuru Local Government Area, but turnout was very low.

Between 8am and 9am, many residents were busy with their daily activities while electoral officials waited for voters to show up.

Shops, markets, and other businesses were open across major parts of Zuru town. This showed that many eligible voters did not think the by-election was important enough to change their plans.

Security personnel were visible around polling centers, with no reports of violence or disruptions.

Speaking shortly after voting at Mango Waje Polling Unit, the Kebbi State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abubakar Zuru, said the low early turnout was due to the time of day and the weather.

The APC chairman also believed his party would win.

Similarly, the APC candidate for Kebbi South Senatorial District, Muhammad Gajere, called the exercise important for the party’s plans for the 2027 elections.

“This election is important because it gives the people a chance to show their confidence in the APC. It also shows the party’s strength and acceptance ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he stated.