Opposition Presses INEC to Ensure Credible By-Elections

Key points

As it gets ready for the next by-elections in Kaduna and Edo states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is being urged by Nigeria’s political opposition and election observers to maintain transparency and fairness.

With both states viewed as strategically important to the parties, the polls, which are intended to fill open legislative seats, come at a delicate political moment. Leaders of the opposition caution that any loss of credibility could undermine public confidence and increase political unrest in the upcoming months.

Despite ongoing criticism for past election-related hiccups and anomalies, INEC has promised to make sure the process runs smoothly. However, stakeholders are demanding greater vigilance, and trust in the commission is still brittle.

Election transparency is essential to public trust

After controversial previous votes that left many Nigerians doubting the commission’s capacity to conduct free and fair elections, calls for credible by-elections are growing.
Civil society organizations argue that INEC needs to take note of its past mistakes, which include claims of vote buying, delayed result collation, and broken voter accreditation systems.

A coalition leader in Abuja who oversees election monitoring said, “These by-elections are a test case.” “INEC can restore confidence before upcoming elections if it does this correctly.”

According to a report by Vanguard news, INEC officials have been reviewing preparations with election observers in Edo and Kaduna.

Transparent results transmission, early material deployment, and proactive engagement with political parties are among the recommendations.

Another big concern is security. Concerns about voter intimidation have been raised by banditry and unrest in some districts of Kaduna. Observers caution that if rival party supporters’ tensions are not carefully controlled, they may worsen in Edo.

INEC pledges equity in the face of criticism

In order to fix previous issues, INEC claims to have improved training for ad hoc employees, bolstered its result transmission system, and improved its logistics plan.
Every vote “will count,” the commission’s spokesperson emphasized, and the body is still dedicated to impartiality.

However, observers point out that grassroots implementation frequently has a greater influence on Nigerian elections than official promises. “In the field, not at press briefings, the credibility of these polls will be assessed,” said a political analyst.

Right now, the main concerns are whether INEC can deliver and whether voters in Edo and Kaduna will view these elections as another lost chance or as a turning point.