Ibadan North Bye-Election: Five Parties Battle For 217,980 Votes

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State, Dr. Adeniran Rahmon Tella, has assured that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is fully prepared to deliver a credible, free and fair bye-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency today.

Speaking at a media briefing in Ibadan ahead of the poll, Tella disclosed that the commission monitored the primaries of seven political parties, but only five made the final list of contestants.

According to him, the candidates are: Hon. Akin Alamu Dexter Femi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Olatunji Haastrup Adewale of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Odususi Olajumoke Olabisi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Oyekunle Fola Sunday of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Hon. Hammed Badmus of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Tella explained that 217,980 voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will decide who succeeds the late Hon. Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi, the former APC lawmaker whose death in July last year created the vacancy. 

Voting will take place across 12 wards and 512 polling units in the constituency.

The REC emphasized that technology would play a central role in the process, with 526 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and 48 backups configured for use, while results will be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). 

He added that 2,062 poll officials have been trained and deployed, while arrangements with transport unions have been finalized to aid logistics.

Ahead of the election, all five candidates signed a peace accord at the INEC office in Ibadan on Wednesday. 

The event, attended by security chiefs, party representatives and other stakeholders, was designed to ensure a violence-free poll.

Tella said the accord was meant to foster peace and credibility, urging candidates, political parties and their supporters to respect the agreement and shun intimidation, vote-buying and electoral malpractices. 

He also announced that movement will be restricted within the 12 wards from midnight until the end of voting today.

On media coverage, the REC confirmed that 18 organizations have been accredited to report on the election. 

He charged journalists to be professional, factual and objective in their coverage.

“INEC is committed to a free, fair and credible process,” Tella stressed. “We count on the media to educate the public, while voters must come out early, follow the rules, and cast their votes without fear.”