By Swill Mavua
The by-elections held across 12 states in Nigeria, on Saturday, August 16, 2025, have been marred by widespread reports of violence, vote buying, and thuggery, casting a dark shadow over the country’s democratic process. These incidents are a stark reminder of the challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system and raise serious concerns about the prospects of free and fair elections in the future.The by-elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saw incidents of vote buying, ballot snatching, and violence in various states, including Ogun, Kaduna, and Kano. In Ogun State, security operatives arrested two INEC officials and their driver with N2.5 million in cash, allegedly meant for vote buying. Similarly, in Kaduna State, a suspected vote buyer was arrested with over N25 million in cash, intended to compromise voters.The compromised state of some INEC officials and security agencies has further exacerbated the situation. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Saseyi Feyijimi, before the election, assured that security agencies would deal decisively with anyone caught involved in vote buying and other electoral malpractices. However, the recurrence of such incidents raises questions about the effectiveness of the measures that were put in place.With the 2027 general elections looming, there seems to be little hope for meaningful electoral reforms. The government and the National Assembly appear to be indifferent to addressing the issues plaguing the electoral system, possibly because the current system serves their interests. President Bola Tinubu’s administration stands criticized for setting a bad precedent with his utterances of “grab it, snatch and run with it.” Just as well, the National Assembly’s silence on electoral reforms is deafening. Mainstream and social media in their reportage are calling INEC and the security agencies to questions. Other schools of thought are accusing the politicians of these excesses because they crave not to serve but to loot the nation’s resources, hence their resolve to violence, vote buying and thuggery – the win at all cost syndrome. The president and national assembly are not spared either. Perhaps Tinubu needs to be told that to salvage Nigeria’s democracy, urgent reforms are needed. He must put the nation above his personal interest and invoke these potential solutions:- Strengthening INEC’s Independence: Ensuring the electoral commission’s autonomy and impartiality is crucial for conducting free and fair elections.- Electoral Offenses Commission: Establishing a dedicated commission to investigate and prosecute electoral offenses could help deter malpractices.- Security Agencies’ Accountability: Holding security agencies accountable for their actions during elections is essential to prevent complicity in electoral malpractices.From all indications, our electioneering processes are fast becoming a farce with every given election circle. The recent by-elections have highlighted the deep-seated problems in Nigeria’s electoral system. Without urgent reforms and a commitment to transparency and accountability, the prospects of free and fair elections in 2027 seem bleak. The government, INEC, and security agencies must work together to address these issues and restore Nigerians’ trust in the democratic process; if not, they may be calling for anarchy in 2027. – The Straight Talk
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