…APGA wins 2 seats, PDP, NNPP 1 each
FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY, SAMSON ALFA, MINNA, Ben Adaji Jalingo, Caleb Ishaya
Ruling All Progressives Congress , APC, made a good mark in the by-elections conducted in parts of the country on Saturday.
The elections were held to fill vacant positions in the National Assembly and some State Houses of Assembly.
The polls, opined to be hitch-free and mostly devoid of violence in most parts were conducted in 16 constituencies across 12 states.
According to the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the APC won in 12 constituencies, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, won in two, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won in one, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, won in one.
Dr. Joseph Ikpea of the APC was declared winner of the by- election for Edo Central Senatorial District in Edo, Hon Omomsede Igbinedion, winner of Ovia Federal Constituency.
Prof. Kingsley Omo-Iwoze, the INEC Returning Officer for the Edo Central Senatorial election at the early hours of Sunday morning in Ubiaja, the administrative headquarters of Esan South-East LGA declared Dr. Ikpea, the winner of the polls with 105,129 votes.
He defeated his closest rival, Joe Okojie of the PDP, who scored 15, 146 votes.
“This is the declaration. I, Prof. Omo-Iwoze, hereby certified that I am the Returning Officer for the 2025 Edo Central Senatorial District by-election, held on August 16, 2024.
“That Ikpea Joseph of APC , having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared winner of the election”, Prof. Omo-Iwoze said.
Speaking shortly after his declaration, the Senator-elect dedicated his victory to God, and the people of the district who he said have chosen vision over sentiment, progress over politics-as-usual.
“This victory reaffirms the people’s faith in our capacity to deliver. I will not disappoint them.
“I will work hand in hand with our governor, our party, and community leaders to ensure that every part of Edo Central feels the impact of quality representation.
He stated that, Governor Monday Okpebholo is a leader of exceptional qualities, strategic, selfless, and deeply connected to the people. His support has been a stabilizing force throughout this journey.
He promised to prioritize legislation and interventions in the areas of infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, healthcare, and the strengthening of traditional
At the Ovia Federal Constituency, the Retuning officer, Clement Ighodaro, said Barrister Igbinedion scored a total of 77,053 votes while the PDP candidate, Johnny Aikpitanyi got 3,838 votes.
Candidate of the ADC, Dr. Sandra Asemota scored 925 votes.
Barr. Igbinedion was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that the electoral umpire, INEC had declared vacant, the Edo Central Senatorial seat following the election of the former occupier, Monday Okpehbolo, who is now the governor of Edo State.
While , Ovia Federal Constituency also became vacant as a result of the election of Dennis Idahosa as the deputy governor.
In Niger State, the INEC declared the candidate of the APC, Mathew Dogara Daje, winner of the by- election of Munya local government.
Daje won the election with a margin of over 6,000 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, candidate, Hon. Sabo Sunday Adabyinlo.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seat in the Niger State House of Assembly following the death of Hon.Joseph Haruna Duza of the PDP.
The election was largely peaceful, with high voter turnout recorded in some polling units, while others witnessed low participation.
Our correspondent reports that accreditation and voting commenced promptly at 8:30 a.m. in most locations, with voters arriving early to exercise their civic rights. Voting officially closed at 3:30 p.m.
Reports added that security was tight across Munya, as armed personnel were stationed at all polling units, with some units having more than 30 uniformed officers.
The voting was conducted in an atmosphere of peace,with voters patiently queued to cast their votes,.three political parties: the APC, PDP, and the African Democratic Congress ,ADC, participated in the election.
Observers and residents commended the peaceful nature of the poll, political tensions lingered. The PDP candidate, Hon. Sabo Sunday Adabyinlo, alleged that state resources were used to influence the election in favour of the APC, accusing the ruling party of vote buying and intimidation.
In his acceptance remarks, Daje expressed gratitude to Governor Umaru Bago and APC supporters across Munya Local Government for their support during the election.
Residents and observers alike praised the conduct of the election, expressing hope that it would serve as a model for future polls in Niger State.
The result for the by-election conducted in Kaura Namoda South State Assembly Constituency of Zamfara was declared inconclusive by the INEC.
The results of the election announced by the Returning Officer, Prof. Lawal Sa’adu showed that the All Progressives Congress ,APC, polled 7,001 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, scored 5,339 votes.
Sa’adu said the margin between the leading political party and the runner-up was less than the total number of Permanent Voter Cards ,PVCs, collected in the polling units where the elections ware canceled.
According to him, the margin between the two leading political parties, the APC and PDP is 1,662 and is less than the 3,265 collected Permanent Voter Cards in the affected polling units.
In Ogun State, Hon. Adesola Elegbeji, of the APC was declared winner of the by-election in Remo Federal Constituency.
The APC also won Taraba State where the INEC declared Mr Abner Shittu as winner of the Karim 1 Taraba State Constituency by-election.
Shittu scored a total of 5,901 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the PDP, Ali Kanda who scored 5,527 votes.
The ADC candidate came 3rd with 2,069 votes while the Social Democratic Party SDP came a distant Forth with 106 votes in the keenly contested election.
Mr Dio Jen deserted his seat as the duly elected member of the State Assembly to take up appointment as a Commissioner and member of the Taraba State Executive Council, creating the vacancy that the election fills.
Taraba State has been under the rule of the PDP since the return to democracy in 1999 and this election signals the beginning of what many considers the end of the party’s supremacy in the State.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance ,APGA, candidates won the by-elections for the Anambra South Senatorial District and the Onitsha North Constituency of the State House of Assembly held on Saturday.
The INEC announced the two results on Sunday in Onitsha and Nnewi Local Governments respectively.
The Returning Officer at the INEC Office in Nnewi, Prof. Frank Ojiako, declared Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu of APGA, the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial seat.
Nwachukwu polled 90,408 votes to defeat his closest rival, Chief Azuka Okwuosa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress ,APC, who scored 19,847 votes.
Mr Donald Amangbo of the African Democratic Congress ,ADC, emerged third with 2,889 votes.
Ojiako said: ” I hereby make the declaration that Emmanuel Nwachukwu of APGA, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.
The News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, reports that the death of the Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South in the Senate in July, 2024 necessitated the conduct of a by-election which was contested by 12 political parties on Aug. 16.
The INEC also declared Ms Ifeoma Azikiwe the winner of the Anambra House of Assembly, Onitsha North Constituency 1 by-election.
Announcing the results in Onitsha, the INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Ibiam Ekpe, disclosed that Azikiwe of APGA scored 7,774 votes to defeat her closest rival and the candidate of African Democratic Congress ,ADC, Mrs Justina Azuka, who pooled 1,909 votes.
He said that the candidate of the APC, Mr Ezennia Ojekwe and that of Young Progressives Party, Njideka Ndiwe scored 1,371 and 655 votes respectively.
He commended the various candidates for their peaceful conduct and hailed the voters for turning out en masse during the exercise.
Azikiwe will now fill the seat left vacant by the former lawmaker, late Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped and subsequently killed.
She would serve out his remaining two years.
However, the New Nigeria NNPP in Kano State has rejected the outcome of the Tsanyawa/Ghari state constituency re-run election.
The Chairman of the party in the state, Hashimu Dungurawa, stated this during a news briefing on Sunday in Kano.
Dungurawa, who applauded the performance of its members and the overwhelming support received from voters, said it would not accept what he described as “manipulation and disenfranchisement” in Tsanyawa/Ghari.
According to him, the re-run election was conducted peacefully in the 10 polling units affected, but INEC cancelled the results and reverted to the previous election outcome, which had been nullified by the Court of Appeal.
“In an ideal situation, results of elections are expected to be announced at the constituency collation centre, but in this case, INEC declared the results at its state headquarters in Kano.
“This provided an avenue for manipulation, which led to the declaration of the APC candidate as the winner”, he alleged.
Dungurawa added that all the presiding officers at the affected polling units had duly signed and submitted their results at the respective collation centres, insisting that only presiding officers had the legal authority to cancel elections.
He described the development as a clear case of injustice, disenfranchisement and electoral manipulation.
The chairman added that the party would continue to resist any attempt to subvert the will of the people of Kano.
However, Dungurawa commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring a peaceful conduct of the Shanono/Bagwai by-election, which he said reflected the wishes of the electorate.
He expressed appreciation to party members, constituents and stakeholders who came out massively to vote for the NNPP in both re-run and by-elections.
“We salute the courage of our people who stood firm and voted for the NNPP candidates.
“We will continue to defend democracy and protect the mandate of the people”, he said.
The Kaduna State Chapter of the APC has attributed the victories at Saturday’s by-elections in the State to the enduring resonance of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the inclusive, people-centered leadership of Gov. Uba Sani.
Mr Yahaya Pate, Kaduna State Secretary of the APC, made the affirmation on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday.
Pate congratulated Fidelix Bagudu ,Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Isa Muhammed ,Zaria Kewaye State Constituency, and Dahiru Umar-Sani ,Basawa State Constituency, on their triumphant emergence at the just-concluded by-elections.
He said: “These victories are not mere electoral wins: they are eloquent affirmations of the people’s steadfast faith in the progressive ideals championed by our great party.
“They reflect, above all, the enduring resonance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the inclusive, people-centered leadership of Gov. Sani, whose governance model continues to redefine participatory democracy in Kaduna State.
Pate said, “Gov. Uba Sani’s tenure has been marked by far-reaching strides in security enhancement, rural infrastructure, and human capital development.
“His administration’s inclusive and detribalised approach has brought historically marginalized voices to the center of governance.
“That the APC now claims victory in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, an opposition stronghold for over two decades, underscores a turning tide”.
The secretary said the development was a profound endorsement of the Governor’s bridge-building style, one that places unity, equity, and development above partisan or ethnic considerations.
“The APC extends deep gratitude to the electorate for their overwhelming support.
“We assure the people that our newly elected lawmakers will honour this trust with purposeful, transparent, and responsive representation.
“They will serve not only as voices for their constituencies but as ambassadors of the shared aspirations of the people”, Pate said.
The stalwart assured that both the Tinubu-led Federal Government and the Sani-led Kaduna State Government remained unwavering in their dedication to delivering peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth.
He said: “Together, they are laying the groundwork for a more equitable and secure society.
“We call on all the citizens to continue their support and prayers as we collectively build a Kaduna, and a Nigeria, that works for all.
“Once again, hearty congratulations to our victorious candidates”.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has congratulated all the winners of Saturday’s by-elections.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga on Sunday in Abuja.
The President also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, for the hitch-free elections, mostly devoid of violence.
Tinubu congratulated the new APC national Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for the emphatic first victory recorded under his leadership.
He also lauded the APC governors and other leaders on the success of the by-elections.
”Chairman Yilwatda has shown leadership capacity and demonstrated what is achievable when popular candidates are fielded and with unity of purpose among party leaders”, the President remarks.
”To all APC faithful and the electorate, thank you for the confidence reposed in our party. Be assured that our Renewed Hope slogan is not a mere slogan. Our destination is a better, more secure and prosperous Nigeria. We shall take you there, by the Grace of God”, he said.
Tinubu commended all the political parties and candidates who participated in the election and enjoined them to continue to be guided by the spirit of sportsmanship and fair, which are enablers of enduring democracy.
In the same vein, Tolu Bankole, a member of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the APC, has congratulated all APC candidates nationwide while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, party governors, and the Nigerian electorate for their role in strengthening the nation’s democracy.
In a goodwill message, Bankole lauded the courage and resilience of APC candidates, describing their commitment to the ideals of the party and service to the nation as “a beacon of hope for the deepening of democracy in Nigeria”.
He expressed appreciation to party supporters, faithful, and Nigerians at large for their trust in the APC, noting that democracy thrives through active public participation.
Bankole singled out President Tinubu for praise, applauding his leadership style and commitment to democratic values. According to him, the president’s insistence on transparency, fairness, and inclusiveness in governance has shown that leadership is about “trust, equity, and service to the people”.
The APC chieftain also commended the party’s governors for what he described as their visionary approach to governance, which has helped translate the “Renewed Hope Agenda” into tangible benefits for citizens across different states.
He further acknowledged the contributions of his colleagues in the APC National Working Committee under the leadership of Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, noting their tireless efforts in sustaining party unity and progress.
Bankole concluded by thanking the Nigerian electorate for their patience, resilience, and continued support of APC-led governments, emphasizing that nation-building remains a collective task.
“Together, we will continue to build a nation where democracy works for all, and development touches every home”, he said.
