Observers: Nasarawa North Bye-Election Falls Short of Credibility Standards

Timescope News 

A coalition of 10 accredited domestic election observer groups has declared that the Nasarawa North Senatorial District bye-election failed to meet the benchmark for a free, fair, and credible electoral process.

The groups addressed journalists in Akwanga on Sunday following their deployment of monitors across Akwanga, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Areas during the June 20 poll.

According to coalition leader Rasheed Shuaib, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received early praise for logistics. Electoral materials departed Registration Area Centres by 6:40 AM, polling units were operational between 7:30-8:15 AM, and 70% of locations commenced accreditation and voting on schedule. Security arrangements also drew commendation, with no violence or breaches recorded throughout the exercise.

However, the observers raised serious concerns over multiple violations of the February 2026 Electoral Act. INEC officials reportedly failed to display the official voter register at polling venues, forcing voters to rely on physical copies being passed around a practice the coalition described as "market-square chaos" that led to lengthy queues and disenfranchised many elderly and vulnerable voters who reportedly abandoned the process.

Technical failures compounded the problems. At High Court Nasarawa Eggon Polling Unit, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to boot at 9:35 AM. Ward 05 Andaha and Millionaires Quarter Akwanga also experienced verification delays, while PU 008 Co-operative Akwanga lost over an hour to system glitches.

Shuaib further revealed that observers intercepted an individual in possession of multiple Permanent Voter Cards at PU 017 Akun Umbugadu. Campaign posters remained visible at Mada station in Nasarawa Eggon, violating electoral guidelines. The six participating parties were ADC, APC, LP, NDC, PDP, and NNPP.

While overt cash-for-votes was absent from polling booths, the coalition noted groups of voters discussing payouts in nearby areas. At PU 003 Andaha South, which has 750 registered voters, balloting continued past 3:37 PM as the Presiding Officer awaited directives from supervisors.

Despite strong logistical preparation and peaceful conduct, the coalition concluded that BVAS failures, illegal PVC possession, unremoved campaign materials, evolving vote-buying tactics, and the refusal to display voter registers "fundamentally compromised" the election's integrity.

The observer groups are calling on INEC to investigate the register-display failure and implement corrective measures before the August 15 Osun State Governorship Election.

Six parties fielded agents and candidates in the bye-election for the seat covering Akwanga, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon constituencies.