Kaduna Bye-Election: Observers Rate Exercise Credible, Transparent
From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Domestic election observers have rated last Saturday’s bye-election in Chikun/Kajuru and Basawa/Kewaye federal and state constituencies as credible, transparent, and reflective of the people’s will.
The observers, under the platform of the Advocacy for Sustainable Development Initiative (ASDI), gave their assessment on Tuesday during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna.
According to the group, the election, which spanned 36 wards and 1,165 polling units, was conducted in an orderly manner, with both sensitive and non-sensitive materials arriving most polling units on time.
The leader of the observers, Abdul Rasheed Shuaib, said polling units opened as scheduled and commended the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for helping curb electoral malpractices.
He noted that security agencies were visible across the constituencies and maintained order throughout the exercise.
However, Shuaib observed that while turnout was moderate in some areas, voter apathy was noticeable in several polling units, stressing the need for intensified civic education to encourage wider participation.
“Despite the hitch-free conduct, we recorded low enthusiasm among voters in certain locations. This underscores the need for more sustained voter education to boost confidence in the electoral process,” he stated.
The group also confirmed the arrest of an opposition party member, Shehu Aliyu Patangi, allegedly caught with a large sum of money intended for vote buying. The suspect, according to Shuaib, confessed and is currently under police investigation.
While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the early deployment of personnel and materials, the observers urged the Commission to strengthen communication with stakeholders ahead of future elections.
They further applauded the deployment of INEC’s result viewing portal (IReV), which they said enhanced transparency and boosted public trust in the outcome of the polls.
The group also praised the professionalism of security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for ensuring a peaceful process.
In their recommendations, the observers urged the media to sustain fact-based reporting as a tool against fake news and electoral misinformation, while calling on civil society organisations to intensify voter enlightenment ahead of subsequent elections.
They concluded that the exercise was peaceful, generally credible, and a positive step towards consolidating democracy in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
