Edo By-Elections: Ensure free, fair and credible polls,CSO tells INEC

By Musa Baba Adamu with agency report

Ahead of Saturdays, August 16th Edo Bye – Election, a Civil Society group, the Coalition of Observers group in Nigeria has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to ensure a free , fair and credible exercise, alleging that there is a plot by the ruling party in the state to undermine the outcome of the election.

The Civil Society Coalition also urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist the temptation not to militarize the process, as well as urging the Nigerian Police to be professional in the discharge of their duties before, during and after the elections.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Coordinator , Comrade Simon Diogu and National Secretary, Blessing Solomon , the group alleged that there are reports that the security agencies military and police will be deployed to undermine the exercise like the September 20th governorship election.

The Statement reads “As Edo State heads to the polls on August 16, 2025, for the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency bye-elections, the Coalition of Observer Groups in Nigeria expresses deep concern over credible reports that threaten the credibility of the process.

The September 2024 governorship election in Edo State left a lingering crisis of confidence in the electoral system, following allegations of irregularities, including the use of duplicate result sheets and questionable collation practices. Those allegations were never conclusively addressed by INEC, leaving citizens doubtful about the neutrality of the electoral umpire.

“We have received worrying indications that similar tactics may be deployed in the upcoming by-elections, with fears that results could be predetermined through the unlawful preparation of duplicate result sheets before collation begins.

Equally troubling are reports that security agencies, particularly the police, may be deployed in a manner that restricts the lawful access of opposition party agents to collation centres. Any such militarisation of the electoral environment would be a direct violation of the Electoral Act and an assault on voters’ right to a transparent process.

“We note that Edo Central Senatorial District is the home constituency of the sitting governor. In light of this, we call on the governor to publicly condemn reported threats made by his supporters against opposition parties and their candidates, and to, in his capacity as Chief Security Officer of the state, commit to ensuring that the elections are peaceful, violence-free, and conducted in strict adherence to the law.

“Any democracy is only as strong as the confidence reposed in it by its citizens. INEC has both a legal and moral obligation to ensure that the will of the people is not subverted by acts of manipulation or intimidation. The commission must take urgent, visible steps to guarantee that collation is open, verifiable, and protected from interference.