The Labour Party (LP) has condemned the conduct of Saturday’s by-elections held across 16 states, saying “If INEC cannot conduct limited off-season elections with transparency and credibility, it raises serious concerns about its ability to manage general election in 2027.”
In a statement by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party described Saturday’s exercise as a significant setback to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
The LP said irregularities, including vote-buying, electoral violence, and lack of transparency marred the process.
It stressed that the by-elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was a sham and fell short of acceptable democratic standards.
“What transpired across Nigeria in the name of by-elections amounted to a mockery of democracy. From Kaduna to Anambra, Ogun to Oyo and Kano, reports indicated incidents of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and logistical lapses,” the statement read.
The party called for urgent reforms and improved oversight in the electoral process, warning that failure to act may impact the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The LP urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive steps to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and processes.
“The credibility of our electoral system is fundamental to the stability of our democracy. It is imperative that the government addresses growing public concern about electoral transparency and security,” the statement added.
However, INEC claims that the by-elections was mostly peaceful and successful, despite incidents reported in some polling units.
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