Nasarawa North Bye-Election Fails Credibility Test, Observer Groups Say
By Roseline Okafor, Lafia.
A coalition of 10 accredited domestic election observer groups says Nasarawa North Senatorial District bye-election did not meet the standard to be judged free, fair, and credible.
The groups briefed journalists in Akwanga on Sunday after deploying monitors across Akwanga, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon LGAs during the June 20 poll.
According to the leader of the group, Rasheed Shuaib, INEC,’s early logistics got praise, materials left Registration Area Centres by 6:40 AM, polling units were set up between 7:30-8:15 AM, and 70% of locations started accreditation and voting on time. Security was also commended. No violence or breaches were recorded.
However, the observers flagged several violations of the February 2026 Electoral Act, said INEC officials failed to post the official voter list at venues. Voters had to pass physical copies around, causing “market-square chaos” and long waits. Many elderly and vulnerable voters reportedly walked away disenfranchised.
He disclosed that devices failed at multiple points. At High Court Nasarawa Eggon PU the BVAS wouldn’t boot at 9:35 AM. Ward 05 Andaha and Millionaires Quarter Akwanga also had verification delays. PU 008 Co-operative Akwanga logged over an hour lost to glitches.
Rasheed Shuaib, Observers intercepted someone with multiple PVCs at PU 017 Akun Umbugadu. Campaign posters were not removed in Mada station Nasarawa Eggon. Six parties contested: ADC, APC, LP, NDC, PDP, NNPP.
The group also observed that Cash-for-votes was kept out of booths, but groups of voters were seen discussing payouts nearby. At PU 003 Andaha South with 750 registered voters, voting was still ongoing at 3:37 PM while the Presiding Officer waited for supervisor directives.
Despite strong early setup and peaceful conduct, the coalition said BVAS failures, illegal PVCs, unremoved campaign materials, evolved vote buying, and refusal to display voter registers “fundamentally compromised” the election’s integrity.
The groups are demanding INEC investigate the register-display failure and fix it 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.
