As Edo State prepares for the August 16, 2025, by-elections in Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency, a coalition of civil society observer groups has voiced serious concerns over alleged plans to manipulate the electoral process and militarise the political environment.
In a statement signed by Simon Diogu on Thursday, the Coalition of Observer Groups in Nigeria expressed alarm over what it described as "credible reports" suggesting that the integrity of the upcoming by-elections may be at risk.
The coalition pointed to unresolved controversies from the September 2024 governorship election in Edo State, which it said left a "crisis of confidence" in the electoral system. That election, according to the group, was marred by allegations of irregularities such as the use of duplicate result sheets and questionable collation procedures—issues which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allegedly failed to adequately address.
According to the coalition, there are now “worrying indications” that similar tactics may be deployed in the upcoming polls, with fears that results could be predetermined through the unlawful production of result sheets before collation even begins.
The statement also raised red flags about the role of security agencies, particularly the police. It alleged that plans may be underway to restrict opposition party agents’ access to collation centres, describing such a scenario as a violation of the Electoral Act and a threat to the transparency of the process.
“The militarisation of the electoral environment undermines voters’ rights and threatens the credibility of the election,” the coalition warned.
Highlighting that the Edo Central Senatorial District is the home constituency of the sitting governor, the group called on the governor to publicly denounce threats allegedly made by his supporters against opposition parties and candidates. It also urged him to, in his capacity as the state’s Chief Security Officer, ensure that the elections are peaceful, law-abiding, and free from violence.
The coalition emphasised that democratic legitimacy depends on public trust, and that INEC bears both a legal and moral responsibility to uphold electoral integrity.
“The commission must act swiftly and transparently to guarantee that the collation process is open, verifiable, and free from interference,” the group stated.
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