The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced results of Saturday’s nationwide bye-elections held across 16 constituencies in 12 states, with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) recording major victories
Elections were conducted to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly following resignations and deaths of former lawmakers.
In Anambra State, APGA consolidated its hold as Chief Emma Nwachukwu won the Anambra South Senatorial District with 90,408 votes, defeating APC’s Azuka Okwuosa, who scored 19,812. APGA also retained additional seats in Onitsha and Nnewi constituencies.
In Kaduna State, APC swept the Zaria Kewaye and Basawa State Assembly seats. Isa Haruna Ihamo emerged victorious in Zaria Kewaye with 26,613 votes, while the APC defeated the PDP in Basawa by 10,926 to 5,499 votes. The party also took a strong lead in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.
The ruling party further strengthened its position in Edo State, where it led in the Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency, while in Adamawa’s Ganye Constituency, APC held an early advantage in a contest marked by massive turnout and peaceful voting.
In Ogun State, the APC secured a landslide in the Remo Federal Constituency as Adesola Elegbeji polled 41,237 votes to defeat PDP’s Bolarinwa Oluwole, who garnered 14,324 votes. However, the election was marred by the arrest of two INEC officials in Iperu with ₦2.5 million cash allegedly linked to electoral malpractice.
Kano State produced mixed results. The NNPP’s Dr. Ali Hassan Kiyawa won the Bagwai/Shanono State Assembly seat with 16,198 votes against APC’s 5,347, while the APC’s Garba Ya’u Gwarmai narrowly clinched the Ghari/Tsanyawa seat with 31,472 votes to NNPP’s 27,931.
Overall, the bye-elections reaffirmed APC’s dominance in many northern and southwestern states, APGA’s stronghold in Anambra, and NNPP’s continued relevance in Kano politics.
INEC commended Nigerians for their peaceful participation and assured that the commission remains committed to free, fair, and credible elections across the country.
the largely peaceful conduct of the bye-elections across several states, there were reports of pockets of violence, electoral sabotage, and attempts at vote-buying in some polling units. In Ogun State, security operatives arrested two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, after they were allegedly caught with ₦2.5 million cash suspected to be linked to efforts at compromising the electoral process.
Similarly, isolated incidents of clashes between rival party supporters were recorded in parts of Kaduna and Kano, where voting was briefly disrupted before security agencies restored calm. These incidents, though not widespread, underscored the challenges of maintaining order during elections. INEC and security agencies have since assured Nigerians that investigations are ongoing and culprits will be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent against future electoral malpractice.
