BY: NASIRU WAZIRI, KANO
The Coalition Of Civil Society Organization in Collaboration With Bagwai and Shanono Communities have lamented that the just concluded Bagwai/Shannon state assembly by-election was marred by violence, intimidation, and voter suppression.
Professor M. D. Muktar disclosed this at a press conference on behalf of the CSO’s who are part and percel of the election observation bodies conducted last saturday.
It could be recall that the Center for Strategic Conflict Management, an Independent National Election Commission (INEC) accredited observer, has released an interim report on the Bagwai/Shanono State Assembly by-election held on August 16, 2025.
According to the report, the election was marred by violence, intimidation, and voter suppression.
An eyes witness who plead anonymous said that an “Armed Thugs” Armed men, mostly wearing red headgear, were seen moving around, intimidating voters, and disrupting the voting process.
Saying that , Voters were chased away from polling units, and many fled for fear of injury.
The report also mentioned Delayed of arrival of Election Materials,Late arrival of election materials further complicated the voting process, he said.
Prof MD explain that over Hundreds of armed thugs were arrested with dangerous weapons.
Moreover, Major political parties, including ADC, APC, and PDP, condemned the violence and intimidation, calling for investigations and cancellation of the election results.
In it’s report,The Center for Strategic Conflict Management recommends that Political parties should sensitize their members on democratic conduct.
Electoral offenders must be punished accordingly, to ensure free, fair, and credible elections is crucial to democracy.
He Stressed that the observer group concluded that there were no elections held in Shanono, describing the process as a “charade and shenanigans”. They are calling for the total cancellation of the election due to its failure to meet the standard requirements of election globally.