The Chairmen of states’ independent electoral commissions have described Monday’s local government elections in Bauchi State as peaceful and credible, with no recorded incidents of violence.
National Chairman of the Forum and Kogi SIEC Chairman, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, told journalists in Bauchi on Monday that the process was well conducted.
“The most important thing in an election is the process, and that is what we came to observe,” Eri said. “So far, so good. There has been no violence of any kind. It is peaceful, and there was no restriction of movement.”
He further said the Forum’s monitoring team visited polling units across the state and observed variations in turnout and logistics.
“We saw areas where materials arrived quite early but voters did not come out early. We also saw areas where the process was still being fully implemented,” he said.
Hon. Eri commended the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission, BASIEC, for its preparations.
“The turnout in most of the areas we visited was impressive. You cannot expect 100 percent turnout in every polling unit. BASIEC’s organisation was quite okay,” Eri said.
“We saw adequate materials. Security personnel were on the ground, and electoral officers were at their duty posts,” he added. “There was no blanket restriction despite limited movements in some areas.”
The Forum said it would incorporate its observations into a comprehensive report for stakeholders.
Members monitored voting in Gwangwangwan, Kofar Dumi, and Unguwar Borno in the Bauchi metropolis.
“For all that we have seen, nothing is missing. What we have seen so far is a remarkable electoral process,” Eri concluded.
Governor Bala Mohammed criticised five opposition parties for threatening to boycott the polls, saying the move exposed their weak grassroots structure.
The governor, who voted in Duguri, Alkaleri LGA, with members of his family, said their absence showed a disconnect from communities.
“Democracy is taking root in this country. We have seen what happened in Osun State. The people voted and their votes counted,” Mohammed said.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing democratic leadership, stressing that “no one will impose leaders on the people. It is democratic governance, not monarchy.”
Mohammed said his administration ensured a level playing field and thanked parties that participated across all 20 LGAs.
“We believe in live and let live and in ensuring citizens exercise their universal suffrage,” he said.
The governor expressed gratitude to Bauchi residents and said he was optimistic his party would retain power.
“My last word is gratitude to God and to the people of Bauchi State for giving us the opportunity to lead. By the grace of God, I hope to hand over to someone from my party who will continue the good work,” he said.
He added that the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, adopted consensus primaries “to avoid internal crisis”.
The planned boycott was announced on Sunday by the ADC, AAC, SDP, PRP and NNPP.
Speaking at the NUJ Secretariat less than 24 hours to the August 17, 2026 election, ADC spokesperson Dr Ladan Salihu said the parties rejected BASIEC’s guidelines over what they called excessive fees and an unfavourable timetable.
The coalition also faulted BASIEC for using the state’s 2008 electoral law instead of the 2026 Electoral Act.
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