The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has revived its political strength following a landslide win of legislative by-elections and re-run elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 12 states at the weekend.
The elections in 16 constituencies in 12 states and two pending re-runs in Enugu and Kano were conducted to fill vacant national and state legislative seats caused by resignations, deaths, and court-ordered reruns.
According to results announced by INEC, the APC won in 12 constituencies, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured two seats, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won one, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) clinched one.
In Edo, APC’s Dr. Joseph Ikpea and Hon. Omosede Igbinedion triumphed in the Edo Central senatorial and Ovia federal constituency elections, defeating their PDP rivals hands down. The same was accomplished in Jigawa, Ogun, Kaduna, Niger, Taraba, Kogi, and Adamawa, where APC victors defeated PDP and other parties’ opposition.
In Kaduna, all the three seats available were won by the APC, which included the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency and the Zaria Kewaye and Basawa state constituencies. In Kogi, APC’s Hassan Shado secured 55,073 votes for Okura state constituency, and in Ogun, Adesola Ayoola Elegbeji won the Ikenne, Sagamu, Remo North federal constituency with 41,237 votes.
Meanwhile, APGA solidified its grip on Anambra, capturing the Anambra South senatorial seat and Onitsha North I state constituency. In Oyo, PDP’s Folajimi Oyekunle was announced winner of the Ibadan North federal constituency by-election against APC’s Adewale Olatunji. Kano recorded a split result with NNPP’s Ali Lawal Al-Hassan winning Bagwai/Shanono while APC’s Ya’u Garba Gwarmai triumphed in Ghari/Tsanyawa in a re-run.
But the Zamfara State House of Assembly bye-election to Kaura Namoda South constituency was announced inconclusive. The returning officer, Professor Lawal Sa’adu, attributed the inconclusiveness to irregularities in five polling units in Sakajiki and Kyambarawa wards, further stating the margin between APC (7,001 votes) and PDP (5,339 votes) was below PVCs collected in the troubled polling units. INEC said that a new date for the rerun election would be announced.
In Enugu South I constituency, the re-run election failed to occur for the fourth time because the election was foiled by protests at eight of the polling stations where the court had instructed a re-run.
The outcomes of the by-elections have again consolidated APC’s dominance on Nigeria’s political scene and also indicated the rising strength of regional parties such as APGA in the South East.
