Low Turnout, Journalists Attack Mar Edo By-Elections

The by-elections held on Saturday across 59 wards in 15 local government areas of Edo State were overshadowed by poor voter participation, a lingering legal battle, and violent attacks on journalists.

Only the All Progressives Congress (APC) participated in the polls, as major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), opted out of the process. 

Despite the boycott, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) pressed ahead with the exercise.

However, controversy trailed the decision after an Edo High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Itsueli, had earlier issued a restraining order halting the elections. 

The order followed a motion by the PDP, which argued that the tenure of elected councillors in the state remains valid until September 2026. 

The party maintained that any attempt to declare the seats vacant or conduct fresh elections before then was “an outright violation of the law.”

Justice Itsueli upheld the PDP’s request, ruling that “sufficient grounds exist for judicial intervention,” and directed that all steps toward the by-elections be suspended. 

Despite this, the electoral body proceeded with the vote, which has drawn criticism from political observers and legal experts.

Across the state, reports indicated sparse voter presence at polling stations. 

At Oredo Ward 9, Asoro Primary School, only a few residents were seen casting their ballots, with electoral officials waiting idly for voters. 

Delays in the arrival of materials in some wards further worsened the situation.

“We came here hoping to see a vibrant turnout, but it was practically empty,” a civil society observer in Benin City told reporters. 

“This raises questions about the credibility and relevance of the exercise.”

The election also witnessed violence as journalists covering the process came under attack. 

Eyewitnesses said thugs, accusing the reporters of working for the PDP, seized their phones and deleted all election-related pictures and videos.

“This is a direct assault on press freedom,” said a journalist who escaped the incident but asked not to be named for safety reasons. 

“No democracy thrives when journalists are attacked for doing their jobs.”

The assault has sparked wider concern about transparency and the conduct of elections in the state. 

The media rights groups are already calling for an investigation into the attacks and stronger protection for journalists covering political events, believing that the unfolding crisis could deepen distrust in local governance ahead of future elections in Edo.