By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria — The Ogun State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of allegedly deploying suspected cultists to intimidate eligible voters ahead of the Remo Federal Constituency bye-election slated for Saturday, August 16, 2025.
According to the party, the threats are aimed at ensuring that only supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — Governor Abiodun’s party — feel safe to participate in the poll.
Speaking to The Merit Newspaper on Tuesday, the NNPP State Publicity Relations Officer, Comrade Olayemi Kehinde Olowu, alleged that “some unknown faces” disrupted a party meeting held at the Remo Constituency Secretariat on Saturday, August 9, warning attendees not to vote for any party other than the APC.
“As of today, Tuesday, August 12, I still received calls from some of our members who are citizens of Ogun State from Remo Constituency reporting that they were being threatened not to come out on the day of the by-election,” Olowu said. “They were told that whoever comes out will be flogged mercilessly. This is unacceptable.”
The NNPP spokesperson insisted that the party’s members were “law-abiding citizens” whose only interest was to exercise their constitutional right to vote without fear or intimidation.
“We are calling on the Ogun State government to call their supporters to order and allow a free, fair and credible election. Democracy thrives when citizens are free to make their choice without violence,” Olowu added.
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The forthcoming bye-election, scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), follows the declaration of the Remo Federal Constituency seat vacant earlier this year. The contest is expected to be keenly fought between the APC, the NNPP, and other opposition parties.
Political analysts have expressed concern over the recurring pattern of pre-election violence in parts of Ogun State, particularly in high-stakes contests. Rights groups have also warned that voter intimidation undermines public trust in the electoral process and could lead to low voter turnout.
As of press time, Governor Abiodun’s media team and the Ogun State chapter of the APC had not responded to requests for comment on the NNPP’s allegations.
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The Ogun State Police Command has not issued a statement on the matter, but security operatives are expected to be deployed across the constituency on election day.
