The aftermath of the Remo Federal Constituency Bye-Election held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, has ignited fierce criticism from Hon. Oke Rotimi Michael, the ACCORD Party candidate, who has publicly rejected the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a strongly worded press statement, Michael described the election as “one of the darkest pages of Nigeria’s electoral history,” alleging widespread violence, voter intimidation, and ballot snatching. “Far from being democracy in action, it was the invasion of vampires and bloodsuckers in action,” he said.
Michael accused security agencies of complicity, claiming they “did nothing as touts, thugs, and mercenaries took to citizens beatings, maimed innocents, terrorized voters, intimidated party agents, disenfranchised electorates, and snatched ballot boxes.” He questioned the credibility of future elections, asking, “If such an unholy evil could be carried out in broad daylight… then what do we expect to witness in 2027 when the next general elections are held?”
The ACCORD candidate criticized INEC’s declaration of the election as “free and fair,” stating, “Was there an election? Yes. Was it free and fair? Far from it.”
He condemned congratulatory messages directed at the declared winner, asserting, “Wishing congratulations to this so-called winner of this abhorrent exercise is nothing short of accrediting tyranny, violence, and assassination of democracy. Only a heart distant from heaven would assign credibility to such evil.”
Michael also referenced international concern, noting, “Even beyond our shores, foreign courts are expressing concern about the integrity of those occupying seats of power, thereby declaring some political parties as terrorists.” He added, “Indeed, their behaviour at this election only serves to vindicate such declaration by a Canadian Court.”
Questioning the legitimacy of the declared winner, Michael asked, “How is it that a man who has been in power for over six years cannot win an election without the use of violence, intimidation, and daylight theft of votes?”
He concluded by calling the election “a shameful mockery of democracy,” warning, “Remo Bye-Election is a shame to our democracy, an outrage to the conscience of Ogun State, and an alarm signal to Nigeria’s electoral destiny.” He added, “Let history be told this way: the so-called celebrants of the winner are not celebrating democracy but jubilantly celebrating wickedness.”
“Power is transient,” Michael reminded those in authority, urging reflection and reform ahead of future elections.
