Daud Olatunji
A special investigation by PLATFORM TIMES has revealed that about 80 per cent of eligible voters in Remo Federal Constituency stayed away from the last by-election in Ogun State, leaving only one-fifth of the electorate to cast their ballots.
The by-election, held on Saturday across Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North Local Government Areas, followed the death of the late Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Adewunmi Onanuga, who passed away in a London hospital in January 2025.
Despite being one of 12 states where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted by-elections, the Ogun exercise was marred by large-scale violence, ballot snatching, and voter intimidation.
According to data obtained from INEC through the result sheet signed by the Returning Officer, Prof. Kazeem Bello, 288,005 voters were registered across the three LGAs. However, only 58,156 people (20 per cent) turned out to vote.
Out of this figure, the valid votes cast stood at 56,588, representing just 19.9 per cent of the total registered voters.
A breakdown of the figures showed the following: Ikenne LGA: 67,721 registered, but only 17,477 voted; Remo North LGA: 48,758 registered, but only 9,374 voted ; and Sagamu LGA: 168,526 registered, but only 32,574 voted.
At the end of the exercise, Prof. Bello declared Adeola Elegbeji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner with 41,237 votes.
He was trailed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, who polled 14,324 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) managed just 271 votes.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put the total population of the constituency at 739,400 as of 2022. The population projections based on the 2006 census show:
Sagamu: 435,200 residents; Ikenne: 202,600 residents and Remo North: 101,600 residents
Using the NBS projection that 52 per cent of residents are eligible voters, the Remo Federal Constituency should have around 384,488 potential voters.
Many stakeholders who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES lamented the brazen acts of hooliganism and thuggery that characterised the poll.
Gunshots rang out in several locations, while suspected political thugs were seen snatching ballot boxes, intimidating voters, and freely moving around polling centres.
Videos obtained by PLATFORM TIMES showed hoodlums chasing opposition supporters away from polling units and booths.
Some candidates claimed they were prevented from voting, while security operatives, including police officers, were allegedly overwhelmed or indifferent as thugs unleashed violence.
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES on Sunday on phone, said he led the team of policemen to ensure security of lives and property
The CP said the team responded to every distress calls throughout the election.
He however said whenever the police were alerted and got to the affected areas, the hoodlums would have left .
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