Elections are supposed to be the pride of any democracy. They give the people a voice, a chance to choose who leads them. But in Nigeria, especially with bye-elections, that pride keeps turning into shame. Instead of the people deciding, it looks like those in power decide the winners even before the first ballot is cast.
What Happened in Edo State
On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Edo people went to the polls to vote in senatorial and House of Representatives bye-elections. Many thought it would be a free and fair exercise. But the results caused anger and disappointment.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) quickly announced the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates as winners. Joseph Ikpea was declared winner of the Edo Central senatorial district, while Omosede Igbinedion was announced winner of the Ovia Federal Constituency seat.
But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cried foul. They said the results were fake and did not reflect the will of the people.
PDP’s Rejection of the Results
The PDP, through its Elections Secretary Chris Nehikhare, said what happened was not an election but a disgrace. They accused INEC of working hand-in-hand with the APC to rig the outcome.
According to PDP, the excuse of “glitches” and “malfunctions” with the BVAS machines was just a cover-up. The party claimed the failure was not technical but deliberate. In their words, it was “sabotage.”
The PDP said INEC was no longer neutral, competent, or trustworthy. Instead of being an umpire, the commission now looked like a player on the side of the ruling party.
The Role of BVAS
One of the main issues raised was the use of the BVAS, the device that is supposed to guarantee the credibility of elections. PDP insisted that BVAS did not fail on its own. Rather, it was tampered with to give APC an advantage.
This raised a big question: if the most important election tool in the country can be manipulated, what then is the future of democracy in Nigeria?
A Repeated Story
Sadly, this is not new. Nigeria has seen the same pattern over and over. Anytime there is a bye-election, the same complaints come up, rigging, manipulation, violence, and INEC’s failure.
Other states also reported problems. In Kano, the housing minister asked for the cancellation of a bye-election. In Jigawa, PDP rejected the results of the Babura/Garki by-election. Instead of elections bringing unity, they keep tearing Nigerians apart.
Who Holds INEC Accountable?
The PDP said if Nigeria were a serious country, the management of INEC would have been sacked and prosecuted for destroying the people’s confidence in elections. But in reality, nothing happens. Those who rig elections continue to enjoy power, while citizens are left powerless.
This shows that there is little accountability in the system. INEC answers to no one. And when there is no punishment, bad behavior continues.
Democracy in Danger
Elections are supposed to give people hope. But when citizens feel their votes do not matter, democracy is in danger. Nigerians are already losing faith. Many no longer bother to vote because they believe the results are already written.
That is why PDP described the bye-election in Edo as “an embarrassment to democracy.” If elections cannot be trusted, then Nigeria is only pretending to be a democracy.
The Bigger Picture
The shame of bye-elections is not about Edo alone. It is about the future of Nigeria. If something as small as a bye-election can be so manipulated, what happens in a full general election?
Until elections are free, fair, and credible, Nigeria will remain in the dark. A country where outcomes are predetermined cannot grow. Democracy without trust is no democracy at all.
