Bye-Elections: ADC Blasts Tinubu, APC, Alleges Widespread Violence, Vote Buying
The African Democratic Congress has blasted President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress over the conduct of Saturday’s bye-elections across 13 states and 16 constituencies, alleging that the exercise was marred by violence, vote buying, and manipulation.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the polls were a reflection of how badly Nigeria’s electoral process had deteriorated under the current administration.
According to the ADC, the elections, which it described as “flawed and compromised,” should not be regarded as a test of the strength of the opposition coalition, but rather as a sad commentary on the state of democracy in the country.
“What Nigerians witnessed in yesterday’s bye-elections is yet another reminder that under the APC-led government, democracy itself, just like the economy and national security, continues to decline,” the statement read in part.
The party claimed that in some states, armed thugs numbering nearly 300 were arrested, while entire polling units were cancelled due to ballot box snatching and voter intimidation.
It also alleged that vote buyers openly distributed cash, citing a case where a suspect was caught with N25.9m meant for inducement.
The ADC further accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of administrative lapses and questioned its credibility following reports of failures in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in several polling centres.
“INEC must not be allowed to turn excuses into a code of conduct,” Abdullahi said, stressing that no government could claim legitimacy if elections continued to be tainted by fraud and violence.
The party warned that the irregularities witnessed on Saturday could serve as a dangerous prelude to the 2027 general elections if left unchecked.
It called on President Tinubu to “rise above partisan interest” and provide genuine leadership that would guarantee the safety and freedom of voters, while also urging INEC to investigate reported cases of malpractice and sanction officials found culpable.
The ADC equally appealed to the international community, civil society, and the media not to remain silent in the face of what it described as “electoral banditry,” saying Nigeria was too important to Africa and the world to allow its democracy to collapse.
“The sanctity of the ballot must be defended today or there may be nothing left to defend tomorrow,” the party declared.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
