As voters in 16 constituencies across 12 states head to the polls today for by-elections, opposition political parties have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the exercise to demonstrate its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections.
The by-elections will cover two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo states, five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states, nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara states.
Speaking ahead of the polls, the spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, said the by-elections, though coming too soon for a full measure of the party’s electoral strength, would be closely watched as a test of political and institutional integrity.
Abdullahi also charged the All Progressives Congress to use the exercise to prove to Nigerians that it would allow a free and fair election.
“The by-election is also an opportunity for the ruling party to convince Nigerians that they are going to be impartial. If they fail to use these opportunities, they may further demoralise voters in subsequent elections, and the country would be worse for it,” he stated.
Abdullahi added that it would be too early to measure the strength of the ADC with the outcome of the Saturday election.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi, expressed the party’s readiness for the contest but warned that the credibility of INEC remained under scrutiny.
“We have always demonstrated capacity and the zeal to be counted among those Nigeria’s democracy has provided for. We will face this election squarely regardless of our pessimism about INEC. It is now left for INEC to prove itself to Nigerians as an unbiased umpire.
“In the recent past, they (INEC) have demonstrated their zeal to correct some of their anomalies and errors recorded in previous elections, particularly that of 2023, as a party we have resolved to take part in all the by-elections in all of the states involved and it is now left for INEC to vindicate itself in line with its assurances,” Abdullahi said.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi, called for improved voter participation in the by-election.
Sowunmi, who spoke at an event in the Ifo area of the state, bemoaned the attitude and turnout of residents during elections, saying everyone must be involved in the process of choosing a leader.
He said Nigerians couldn’t continue to complain about the government when they are not involved in the process of choosing the leader.
The PUNCH