A non-governmental organization, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), has report incidences of electoral violence during Saturday bye-election conducted across four ward in Okura state constituency, Kogi state.
This was made known during a press conference organised by the Kimpact Development Initiative in respect to the Nigeria Election Violence Report (NEVR) Project for the 2025 bye-elections.
KDI said its observation identified seven incidences of electoral violence in Kogi, Anambra and Enugu states: five in Kogi State and one each in Enugu and Anambra states.
“In Kogi State for example, there were serious disruptions and records of intimidation at the Registration Area Centre (RAC) for Okura State Constituency, located at Our Lady of School in Anyigba. Security agents, together with political thugs reportedly affiliated with a political party (APC), cordoned off the RAC, preventing the deployment of election materials and ad hoc staff. Sporadic gunshots were observed around the facility, and party agents attempting to access the centre were violently assaulted. In one case, the agent of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) was beaten so severely that he required hospitalisation. There are also credible reports of ballot box stuffing which took place within the RAC. As a result, voting has been effectively stalled across the four wards of the constituency,” the report stated.
The KDI also reported incidences of electoral violence in other states where bye-elections were conducted.
“Also, in Anambra, there were credible reports of the relocation of polling units from wards Iseke, Lili, Mbosi, Ubuluisiuzer, Azia and Osimoru to Ihiala LGA secretarial.
“The Enugu state narrative is not far from the aforementioned, reports indicate that a party agent of the APC was attacked at Enugu South Urban, Ward 5, Polling Unit 8.
“Additionally, in Sharuruwa, Shanono Local Government Area of Kaduna State, there are disturbing reports of voter suppression, intimidation, and harassment. The Yan-Banga group, armed with dane guns and sticks, continues to roam the streets, creating fear among both voters and election officials, and obstructing the conduct of the polls,” the report revealed.
KDI Executive Director, Bukola Idowu, explained that the objective of the press conference was to inform the public and major stakeholders on the preliminary findings and observations of KDI on the election processes, procedures and incidence reports from the ongoing bye-election and make recommendations based on their observations.
The non-governmental organization commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improvement in the electoral process, noting that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned effectively in the majority of polling units observed,
KDI said only a negligible number of polling units reported minor malfunctions, mostly linked to network challenges and in most of these cases, the issues were quickly resolved, allowing the process to continue.
He noted that, except for the incident recorded in Kogi State, security agencies largely conducted themselves with professionalism during the ongoing bye-election across the nation as there were no reports of interference in the electoral process.
KDI commended the security personnel for their efforts in maintaining order and ensuring a generally peaceful atmosphere at most polling units observed.
The non-governmental organization called on all stakeholders, including voters, party agents, security personnel, and electoral officials, to maintain peace, calm, and decorum throughout the electoral process., while reiterating the importance of transparency at every stage of the election.
KDI emphasized that the final results must truly reflect the will of the people.
