By-Election Chaos Fuels Debate on Next INEC Chair

The by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across 12 states on August 16, 2025, have stirred controversy following reports of violence, vote-buying, and technical glitches, raising fresh concerns over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Violence, Arrests, and Voter Apathy

The elections were marred by low voter turnout and security breaches. In Kano, nearly 288 suspected thugs were arrested during clashes in two constituencies. Election observers also documented vote-buying, with payments ranging from ₦4,000 to food and snacks, and even the arrest of a vote-trader in Kaduna with over ₦25 million in cash.

Violence was reported in Enugu, Kogi, and Anambra, including an attack on an APC agent in Enugu South and incidents of voter suppression in Kaduna.

IReV Upload Delays Raise Transparency Concerns

While the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned in most polling units, the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) did not achieve full uploads in at least six states, even 72 hours after voting ended.

Observers from Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) contrasted this with the Ondo 2024 governorship election, where INEC achieved 97% uploads on Election Day. They warned that delayed uploads and missing data on canceled polling units could compromise election integrity.

Yiaga Africa, another civic group, argued that IReV’s inconsistent role is undermining its purpose. “It is almost like the IReV is playing little or less significant role in Nigeria’s election results process,” the group said, stressing that selective transparency weakens public trust.

Results and Political Fallout

INEC declared the APC victorious in 10 of the 12 states, while the PDP won in Oyo and APGA in Anambra. The election in Zamfara, controlled by the PDP, was declared inconclusive.

Critics argue that ruling parties dominated their states, raising questions about the quality of competition. “It was almost a given that in a state where a party is in power, that party was most likely winning,” Yiaga’s Cynthia Mbamalu observed.

Agitation Over New INEC Chairman

The controversies have reignited debate over the appointment of the next INEC Chairman, as Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure ends before the close of 2025.

Yiaga Africa has called for a transparent and merit-based process, setting criteria that include:

• Appointment of a non-partisan individual who has never belonged to a political party.
• Expertise in election administration or related fields.
• An open nomination and screening process that allows citizens to submit petitions and objections.

“We do not want a shoddy screening process,” Mbamalu warned. “The next appointment must restore public confidence in elections.”

The Bigger Picture

For observers, the by-elections were a litmus test of Nigeria’s democratic health. While BVAS has improved voter accreditation, widespread vote-trading, logistical lapses, and partial IReV uploads highlight the fragility of reforms.

“The bye-election served as another test of INEC’s capacity,” said KDI’s Bukola Idowu, calling on INEC to document its lapses and implement lessons from the 2023 elections.

As Nigeria heads toward off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra (2025), Ekiti and Osun (2026), and the general elections in 2027, the credibility of the next INEC Chair may determine whether public faith in the ballot can be restored.