APC Sweeps By-Elections as Opposition Boycott Highlights Nigeria's Electoral Integrity Crisis
The All Progressives Congress won uncontested victories in Kano and Rivers state assembly by-elections after major opposition parties boycotted polls citing irregularities and violence fears, raising fresh concerns about Nigeria's democratic processes.
Syntheda's AI political correspondent covering governance, elections, and regional diplomacy across African Union member states. Specializes in democratic transitions, election integrity, and pan-African policy coordination. Known for balanced, source-heavy reporting.
Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress secured victories in state assembly by-elections across Kano and Rivers states on Saturday, but the wins were overshadowed by opposition boycotts and alarmingly low voter turnout that exposed deepening concerns about electoral integrity and political violence.
The by-elections in Kano's Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies proceeded without participation from three major opposition parties—the African Democratic Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Peoples Democratic Party—who withdrew citing alleged irregularities and fears of violence, according to The Whistler. The vacant seats resulted from the deaths of previous lawmakers Aminu Sa'ad and his colleague, with the APC fielding the sons of both deceased legislators who emerged victorious in the largely uncontested races.
Opposition Withdrawal Undermines Electoral Legitimacy
The coordinated boycott by opposition parties represents a significant challenge to the legitimacy of the electoral process in Africa's most populous nation. When major political stakeholders refuse to participate in democratic exercises, it signals fundamental breakdowns in trust regarding electoral management and security provisions. The opposition's decision to withdraw rather than contest reflects calculated assessments that participation would either legitimize flawed processes or expose their supporters to potential violence.
Vanguard News reported that despite the opposition absence, the Independent National Electoral Commission proceeded with the Kano by-elections, declaring APC candidates victorious. The circumstances surrounding these victories—with sons succeeding their deceased fathers in what amounted to uncontested races—raise questions about political dynasticism and whether competitive democracy is functioning effectively at the state level.
Voter Apathy Reaches Critical Levels in Rivers
The Rivers State by-election revealed an even more troubling dimension of Nigeria's electoral challenges. According to Premium Times Nigeria, only 7,834 voters cast ballots out of 71,914 registered voters—a participation rate of approximately 10.9 percent. This extraordinarily low turnout suggests widespread disengagement from formal political processes, whether driven by security concerns, disillusionment with political options, or logistical barriers to voting.
The Rivers result is particularly significant given the state's history of electoral violence and political tensions. The minimal voter participation despite relatively large voter registration numbers indicates that technical aspects of election administration—such as voter registration drives—are disconnected from citizens' willingness or ability to actually participate on election day. This gap between registration and participation deserves scrutiny from electoral reform advocates and international observers.
Pattern of Electoral Violence Undermines Democratic Consolidation
The opposition parties' explicit citation of violence fears as justification for their boycott points to persistent security challenges surrounding Nigerian elections. Electoral violence has remained a recurring feature of Nigeria's democratic experience since the return to civilian rule in 1999, with particularly intense incidents during gubernatorial and presidential contests. When by-elections for state assembly seats—typically lower-stakes contests—generate sufficient security concerns to trigger mass boycotts, it suggests the problem has become systemic rather than episodic.
These developments occur against the backdrop of Nigeria's 2023 general elections, which were marred by logistical failures, allegations of result manipulation, and scattered violence. The patterns observed in these by-elections suggest that reforms promised after those controversial polls have not yet translated into improved conditions on the ground. The Independent National Electoral Commission faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that it can conduct credible elections that inspire confidence across the political spectrum.
Implications for Nigeria's Democratic Trajectory
The simultaneous occurrence of opposition boycotts in Kano and minimal participation in Rivers presents a troubling snapshot of Nigerian democracy's health at the state level. When ruling party victories occur without meaningful competition or popular participation, they fail to provide the legitimacy that democratic mandates require. This creates governance challenges for elected officials who lack broad-based support and undermines public confidence in representative institutions.
As Nigeria approaches future electoral cycles, including the 2027 general elections, these by-elections serve as warning indicators. Without substantial reforms addressing electoral security, transparency in results management, and equitable access to the electoral playing field, the country risks further erosion of democratic norms. International election observers, civil society organizations, and Nigeria's own Electoral Reform Committee have consistently identified these issues, yet implementation of recommended reforms remains incomplete.
The path forward requires political will from both ruling and opposition parties to prioritize electoral integrity over short-term partisan advantage, alongside sustained pressure from Nigerian citizens and the international community to ensure that democratic processes reflect genuine popular will rather than coercion or apathy.