The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a commanding lead in the weekend’s by-elections, winning 12 out of 16 contested constituencies across 12 states.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) claimed two seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won one constituency each. However, the results have been strongly rejected by several opposition parties, who decried the process as flawed and marred by irregularities.
The elections, held on Saturday, served as a crucial test of strength for Nigeria’s major political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. While there were pockets of close contests—such as in Kano State—parties largely retained dominance in their strongholds, potentially foreshadowing the political landscape in the next national polls.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated all winning candidates, while the APC hailed the results as a vote of confidence in the Tinubu administration. Tinubu also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts, describing the elections as largely peaceful.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president also congratulated the newly elected APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, for delivering a strong electoral showing under his leadership.
“Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has demonstrated capable leadership and shown what is achievable with unity and the selection of popular candidates,” Tinubu said. “To our supporters and the electorate, thank you for believing in the Renewed Hope agenda. Together, we will build a safer, more prosperous Nigeria.”
The APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, praised President Tinubu for providing a level playing field and lauded the party’s leaders and supporters for their efforts.
“This victory is another strong endorsement of the Tinubu administration and our Renewed Hope Agenda, which is beginning to transform our economy and national life,” Morka stated.
However, opposition parties including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), and PDP sharply criticized the elections, citing incidents of violence, vote buying, and intimidation.
State By State Highlights
KANO STATE
APC and NNPP won one seat each in the State Assembly by-elections. APC’s Garba Ya’u Gwarmai won in the Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency, while NNPP’s Ali Hassan Kiyawa secured victory in Bagwai/Shanono. The APC has called for cancellation of both results due to violence and the arrest of 280 suspected thugs with dangerous weapons.
ANAMBRA STATE
APGA swept both the Anambra South senatorial seat and the Onitsha North I State Constituency. Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu won the senatorial seat, while Mimih Ifeoma Azikiwe triumphed in the state assembly race.
KOGI STATE
APC’s Musa Yakubu won the Okura II State Constituency seat with 55,073 votes, far ahead of his rivals from PDP and other parties.
EDO STATE
APC’s Dr. Joseph Ikpea won the Edo Central Senatorial District race, while Omosede Igbinedion secured the Ovia Federal Constituency seat for the party.
OGUN STATE
Adesola Elegbeji of APC emerged victorious in the Remo Federal Constituency by-election, winning in Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North LGAs.
OYO STATE
Folajimi Oyekunle of PDP won the Ibadan North Federal Constituency, reclaiming the seat for PDP for the first time since 2011.
ADAMAWA STATE
Musa Misa of APC narrowly defeated PDP’s Buba Joda in a closely contested race for the Ganye Local Government State Constituency seat.
KADUNA STATE
APC claimed all three seats in the by-elections for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Zaria Kewaye, and Basawa State Constituencies.
NIGER STATE
Mathew Daje of APC won the State House of Assembly seat for Munya Local Government, defeating PDP’s Sabo Adabyinlo with a wide margin.
JIGAWA STATE
APC’s Rabiu Mukhtar triumphed in the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency by-election, defeating PDP and NNPP candidates.
TARABA STATE
Abner Shittu of APC won the Karim I State Constituency seat, narrowly defeating PDP’s Ali Kanda.
ZAMFARA STATE (Inconclusive)
INEC declared the by-election in Zamfara inconclusive due to irregularities and cancellations in Sakajiki and Kambarawa wards. The number of collected PVCs in the affected areas exceeded the margin between APC and PDP, necessitating a supplementary election.
Opposition Reactions:
Accusations of Violence and Voter Suppression
The ADC expressed concern over the conduct of the by-elections, citing widespread intimidation, corruption, and manipulation. The party referenced a Canadian court’s reported classification of APC and PDP as terrorist organizations, claiming that the by-elections further justify such labels.
“These elections were riddled with violence, vote buying, and administrative failure,” said ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi. “This is not a reflection of the opposition’s strength, but of a system corrupted against the people’s will.”
Similarly, the Labour Party described the elections as a “mockery of democracy and a travesty of justice,” highlighting the exclusion of opposition candidates and blatant vote trading.
“When ballots are traded for money and security agencies stand by while voters are intimidated, the voice of the electorate is silenced,” LP stated. “Democracy is being dismantled under the current administration.”
The Labour Party described the by election as “nothing short of a mockery of democracy, a travesty of justice against the Nigerian people, and a dangerous dress rehearsal of what may befall us in 2027.”
In a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser, Media, to the interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, the party said the election was marred by large-scale rigging, brazen vote-buying, and violence.
It accused APC agents, INEC officials, and security personnel who were meant to ensure a smooth electoral process of orchestrating the “shameful acts that desecrated our electoral space.”
The Labour Party alleged that INEC, under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, had failed once again to redeem its image following its widely criticized role in the 2023 elections, which it claimed involved a “brazen electoral heist” that robbed both the party and the Nigerian people of their mandate.
The party urged President Bola Tinubu to rein in his supporters, warning that “history will be unkind to President Tinubu if he permits the hawks around him to push him into further desecrating our democracy in the narrow pursuit of retaining power, even in the face of overwhelming rejection by a weary citizenry already pauperized by the ill-conceived policies of his administration.”
The statement continued:
“What transpired across Nigeria yesterday in the name of buy elections was nothing short of a mockery of democracy, a travesty of justice against the Nigerian people, and a dangerous dress rehearsal of what may befall us in 2027 if citizens do not act swiftly to halt this brigandage.
“From Kaduna to Anambra, Ogun to Oyo, and Kano, the narrative remained the same: large-scale rigging, brazen vote-buying, and violence defined the process. Independent accounts confirmed that the ruling APC often in collusion with security agencies stood at the very centre of these shameful acts that desecrated our electoral space.
“If INEC cannot conduct minor off-season elections with integrity, one shudders to imagine how it intends to manage the nationwide polls of 2027. True to character, the Independent National Electoral Commission under Professor Mahmood Yakubu did not disappoint.”
The Labour Party added:
“Two years after the brazen electoral heist that robbed the Labour Party and the Nigerian people of their mandate, we had hoped that the passage of time would inspire Yakubu to at least attempt a semblance of redemption, a pretence at leaving behind a legacy. Yesterday’s outing has proven that such expectations were misplaced.
“We, therefore, call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rise to the occasion and rescue our democracy from imminent collapse. The charade witnessed yesterday must not be allowed to define future elections.”
It’s Fraud, Says PDP Chieftain
A PDP chieftain in Edo State, Alari Felix, condemned the buy elections as “an enforcement of fraud,” questioning why the party participated at all, particularly within the state.
In a statement issued Sunday in Benin City, Alari described the elections as “a political circus, where the clowns already know the script and the master wears the badge.”
He argued that if the September 21, 2024, governorship election could be compromised in favour of the APC candidate, then there was little hope for fairness in the by elections.
According to him, participating in what he called “a charade” only served to legitimize a flawed and already corrupted electoral process.
“It is baffling, almost insulting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is participating in the Ovia and Edo Central constituencies buy elections, an exercise that is nothing more than a political circus, where the clowns already know the script,” he said.
