Rivers Bye-Election: AA candidate Douglas petitions INEC, IGP, rejects result

Dr. Douglas Fabeke, representing the Action Alliance (AA), has formally challenged the outcome of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election, which took place on June 20. The AA candidate, who ran against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olaka Nwogu, has filed a petition with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, citing numerous allegations of electoral misconduct. These include claims of voter suppression, intimidation, violence, vote-buying, and manipulation of electoral materials. Fabeke's rejection of the election result stems from his belief that the process was compromised by widespread irregularities, undermining the legitimacy of the outcome.

The petition, dated June 22, outlines specific grievances. Fabeke alleges that in certain polling units, particularly in Bomu, Gokana Local Government Area, presiding officers failed to accurately count votes. He further claims that INEC officials and electoral materials were moved to a hotel, where ballot papers for the Action Alliance were reportedly removed and destroyed. In Bomu Ward 2, he asserts that some INEC officials were allegedly offered N50,000 by PDP agents, with threats made against those who refused to cooperate. Across the district, especially in Khana Local Government Area, vote buying was extensive, with voters allegedly offered sums ranging from N1,000 to N5,000 in exchange for supporting the PDP. In Oyigbo Local Government Area, agents of the PDP reportedly distributed money to voters, causing the disruption and cancellation of voting in Unit 5, Ward 10.

Additionally, Fabeke accuses INEC of using malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which allegedly disenfranchised registered voters. He also claims that some INEC officials and others manipulated the voting process by manually thumb-printing ballot papers, inflating figures, and altering results in favor of the PDP. Security personnel, according to Fabeke, failed to prevent acts of intimidation and misconduct during the election. His petition calls for a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of the election, the preservation and forensic examination of all electoral materials—including ballot papers, result sheets, BVAS records, and electronic transmission logs—and a declaration of him as the rightful winner following a review of the process.

This challenge comes amid broader concerns about the integrity of recent elections in Nigeria. While the Rivers South-East by-election is the central focus here, similar issues have been reported in other regions, such as the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, where the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bishop Oscar Ossai, also rejected the outcome. Ossai alleged that the election lacked credibility and transparency, pointing to infractions such as the non-deployment of BVAS in some polling units, failure to electronically transmit results, and discrepancies between local and aggregated results. He also accused political actors of engaging in vote buying and voter inducement, and noted that some ad hoc staff deployed by INEC were members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), potentially compromising the neutrality of the electoral process.

Both Fabeke and Ossai have emphasized the need for accountability and transparency in the electoral process. They have called for investigations into alleged misconduct, the preservation of evidence, and the involvement of legal and constitutional authorities to address the challenges they claim were encountered. Their actions highlight ongoing tensions around the reliability of election outcomes and the role of institutions like INEC and security agencies in ensuring fair and transparent electoral processes.

Looking ahead, the responses from INEC and the IGP will be critical in determining the course of action. If the commission acknowledges the allegations, it may initiate an inquiry into the conduct of the election, potentially leading to legal proceedings against individuals or entities found to have violated electoral laws. Meanwhile, the broader implications for Nigerian democracy—particularly regarding public trust in electoral systems—will depend on how these disputes are resolved and whether reforms are implemented to prevent similar issues in the future. As both candidates push for accountability, the nation watches closely, aware that the resolution of these challenges could shape the trajectory of political engagement and institutional integrity in the years to come.