By Rafiyat Sadiq
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday secured a sweeping victory in Saturday’s bye-elections, winning 12 out of the 16 legislative seats contested across 12 states.
Figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that the APC captured all available seats in Ogun, Edo, Niger, Kaduna, Taraba, Jigawa, Adamawa and Kogi states.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) shared two seats in Kano with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) but lost ground to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo. At the end of the exercise, APC secured 12 constituencies, APGA won two, while PDP and NNPP took one each.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated winners across party lines, but opposition parties including the PDP, Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) rejected the conduct of the bye-elections. They alleged widespread rigging and warned that a repeat of such practices in the 2027 general elections could endanger the country’s democracy.
READ ALSO:By-Elections Rocked by Violence, Vote-Buying Allegations Across States
APC, NNPP share victories in Kano
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) split the two legislative seats contested in Kano State at the weekend.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Yusuf, announced the APC candidate, Ya’u Garba Gwarmai as winner in the rerun election for Ghari/Tsanyawa state constituency. He won with 31,472 votes defeating NNPP’s Mohammed Yusuf Ali, who polled 27,931 votes.
The NNPP, however, regained ground in the Shanono/Bagwai state constituency, where its candidate, Ali Lawal Alhassan, secured 16,198 votes to beat APC’s Abdullahi Ahmad Muhammad, who scored 5,347 votes. INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Hassan Adamu Shitu, declared Alhassan winner.
The Shanono/Bagwai seat became vacant after the death of APC lawmaker Halilu Kundila, while the Ghari/Tsanyawa seat was voided over irregularities in the previous election, which had been won by the APC.
Despite the loss, NNPP retains majority control of the Kano House of Assembly with 26 seats, while the APC holds 14. APC stakeholders alleged that no election took place in Shanono/Bagwai, while the NNPP vowed to challenge the Ghari/Tsanyawa outcome in court.
APGA claims Anambra senatorial, assembly seats
In Anambra, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) claimed victories in the Anambra South senatorial bye-election and the Onitsha North 1 state constituency poll.
INEC declared Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu winner of the senatorial race with 90,408 votes. He defeated APC’s Chief Azuka Okwuosa, who scored 19,812, and ADC’s Donald Amamgbo, who garnered 2,889. The election followed the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who won the seat on the Labour Party platform but defected to APC before his passing.
Nwachukwu, a former President-General of Ukpor Town Union, becomes the first politician from Nnewi South to occupy the senatorial seat since 1999. He is also only the second APGA senator from Anambra after Victor Umeh, now of the Labour Party, and joins Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South as the party’s only representatives in the National Assembly.
In Onitsha North 1, APGA candidate Barr. Ifeoma Azikiwe won with 7,774 votes, defeating ADC’s Mrs. Justina Azuka, who polled 1,909. APC’s Ezennia Ojekwe scored 1,371, while YPP’s Njideka Ndiwe got 655. Azikiwe now becomes the second female legislator in the 30-member Anambra Assembly.
The ADC candidate, Mrs. Azuka, is the widow of Justice Azuka, the murdered lawmaker whose body was discovered near the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, 2025, after his abduction on Christmas Eve. INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Ibiam Ekpe of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, commended the peaceful conduct of the polls.
The exercise, however, turned tense in Nnewi South, where Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim and Environment Commissioner Engr. Felix Odumegwu narrowly escaped mob attack. They were accused by youths of vote-buying before security operatives intervened.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo condemned the incident, blaming APC governorship candidate Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu for allegedly orchestrating the assault. APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, also accused Ukachukwu of sponsoring thugs.
But Ukachukwu’s aide, Mr. Tony Uche, denied the allegations, claiming the deputy governor and commissioner stormed Ukachukwu’s hometown of Osumenyi with over 20 trucks of armed security operatives in an attempt to influence the election, which triggered resistance from local youths.
PDP returns to Ibadan North after 14 years, APC sweeps Remo federal seat in Ogun
In Oyo State, PDP candidate Folajimi Oyekunle won the Ibadan North Federal Constituency bye-election. Declaring the result at Ikolaba High School, Ibadan, INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Abiodun Oluwadare of the University of Ibadan, announced that Oyekunle polled 18,404 votes to defeat APC’s Adewale “Murphy” Olatunji, who scored 8,312.
The seat became vacant after the death of Musiliu Akinremi, popularly known as “Jagaban.” Oyekunle’s victory marks the PDP’s first return to the constituency since 2011, which party supporters described as a “historic comeback.”
In Ogun State, the APC secured the Remo Federal Constituency, covering Ikenne, Remo North and Sagamu local governments. INEC declared APC’s Princess Adesola Elegbeji winner after she garnered 41,237 votes, while PDP candidate finished with 14,324.
Two-seat haul for APC in Edo
The APC also won both bye-elections in Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency.
Joseph Ikpea clinched the Senate seat with 105,129 votes against PDP’s Prince Joe Okojie. INEC’s Prof. Kingsley Omo-Iwoze announced the result in Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South-East.
In Ovia, Omosede Igbinedion of the APC emerged winner with 77,053 votes, defeating PDP’s Johnny Aikpitanyi, who managed 3,838 votes. The ADC’s Dr. Sandra Asemota secured 925.
Governor Monday Okpebholo hailed the twin victories, describing them as a “resounding endorsement” of the APC. He said the outcome reflected growing support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027.
Kaduna delivers clean sweep for APC
In Kaduna, the APC captured the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency seat and two State Assembly seats in Zaria.
Felix Bagudu of the APC polled 34,580 votes to beat PDP’s candidate, who scored 11,491. The Returning Officer, Prof. Abubakar Jumare, declared him winner at the INEC office.
In the State Assembly, Isa Haruna of APC won Zaria Kewaye Constituency with 26,613 votes, while PDP and SDP candidates trailed with 5,331 and 5,721 respectively. In Basawa Constituency, APC also triumphed with 10,926 votes.
APC consolidates in Niger, Taraba, Jigawa
In Niger State, APC’s Matthew Daje was declared winner of the Munya Constituency bye-election with 12,556 votes, defeating PDP’s Sabo Adabynlo, who polled 5,646.
In Taraba, APC’s Abner Shittu won the Karim Lamido I Constituency with 5,895 votes, edging out PDP’s Ali Kanda with 5,488.
In Jigawa, Rabiu Mukhtar Garki of APC secured the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency with 38,449 votes, defeating PDP’s Isa Auwalu Manzo, who scored 13,519.
Tinubu, APC celebrate wins
President Bola Tinubu congratulated the winners, praising INEC for what he described as largely peaceful and credible elections. He also commended new APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for the “emphatic first victory under his leadership.”
APC spokesman, Felix Morka, said the victories reflected Nigerians’ endorsement of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The party congratulated its candidates and urged them to “reward their constituents with purposeful legislative interventions.”
Opposition rejects outcome
The PDP rejected the results, describing the exercise as a repeat of the “sham” of 2023. Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, accused INEC of colluding with APC and security agencies to intimidate voters and manipulate outcomes. He called for restructuring of INEC and reforms ahead of 2027.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also alleged ballot snatching, vote-buying and violence, warning that the exercise was a “dress rehearsal for 2027 chaos.” Labour Party (LP) branded the polls a “mockery of democracy,” while the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) cautioned Tinubu against interpreting APC’s victories as a measure of national popularity, insisting the process was flawed.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
