Domestic election observers have described last Saturday’s bye-election in Chikun/Kajuru , Basawa and Zaria Kewaya Federal and state constituencies as largely credible, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people.
The observers, under the platform of Advocacy for Sustainable Development Initiative (ASDI), made the declaration on Tuesday during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna.
According to the group, the election, which covered 36 wards and 1,165 polling units across the affected constituencies, was orderly, with sensitive and non-sensitive materials arriving most polling units on time.
Leader of the observers, Abdul Rasheed Shuaib, said polling units opened as scheduled, with the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) playing a crucial role in curbing electoral malpractices.
He noted that security agencies were visible throughout the exercise, maintaining law and order.
Abdulrashid Shuaibu however, observed that while turnout was moderate in some areas, voter apathy was noticeable in several polling units, stressing the need for increased 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 said.
The group also confirmed the arrest of one opposition party member, Shehu Aliyu Patangi, who was allegedly caught with a huge sum of money intended for vote buying as the suspect Shuaib, has confessed and is currently under police investigation.
While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring 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 platform (IReV), which, they said, enhanced transparency and built trust in the outcome of the polls.
The group also commended 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 to counter fake news and electoral misinformation.
They also encouraged civil society organisations to step up voter enlightenment ahead of subsequent elections.
The observers concluded that the exercise was peaceful, generally credible, and a positive step towards strengthening democracy in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.
Abdullahi Shettima.
