The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in 12 of the 16 legislative seats contested during Saturday’s bye-elections across 12 states of the federation.
The ruling party consolidated its strength with wins in Ogun, Edo, Niger, Kaduna, Taraba, Jigawa, Adamawa, and Kogi states. In Kano, APC’s Ya’u Garba Gwarmai clinched the Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency with 31,472 votes, defeating NNPP’s Mohammed Yusuf Ali, who garnered 27,931 votes. However, the NNPP secured a foothold in the Shanono/Bagwai constituency, where Ali Lawal Alhassan polled 16,198 votes against APC’s Abdullahi Ahmad Muhammad, who had 5,347 votes.
In Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) swept both the senatorial and House of Representatives seats. Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu won the Anambra South senatorial bye-election with 90,408 votes, defeating APC’s Chief Azuka Okwuosa (19,812 votes) and ADC’s Donald Amamgbo (2,889 votes). Nwachukwu becomes the first senator from Nnewi South since 1999. Similarly, Barrister Ifeoma Azikiwe clinched the Onitsha North 1 federal constituency with 7,774 votes, outpacing ADC’s Justina Azuka (1,909 votes), APC’s Ezennia Ojekwe (1,371 votes), and YPP’s Njideka Ndiwe (655 votes).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made gains in Oyo State, where its candidate, Folajimi Oyekunle, won the Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat with 18,404 votes, defeating APC’s Adewale Olatunji, who secured 8,312 votes.
Despite the victories recorded, opposition parties rejected the outcome, alleging widespread irregularities. The PDP, Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) cited cases of vote-buying, ballot-box snatching, and electoral violence.
ADC spokesman Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi condemned reports of nearly 300 arrests of political thugs and the recovery of ₦25.9 million allegedly set aside for voter inducement. He urged President Bola Tinubu to guarantee credible polls, warning that electoral malpractice undermines democratic governance.
Labour Party, through Ken Asogwa, aide to Acting National Chairman Senator Esther Usman, described the elections as a “mockery of democracy” and a rehearsal for the 2027 general elections. The party accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, of failing to restore confidence after the disputed 2023 general elections.
Similarly, the CUPP warned that unchecked irregularities could destabilize Nigeria’s democratic system if not urgently addressed.
