Nigeria’s ruling and dominant political parties secured key victories in Saturday’s by-elections, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) tightening its control across several states, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) picked up important wins in their strongholds.
In Anambra State, APGA’s candidate, Ifeoma Azikiwe, emerged winner of the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency seat with 7,774 votes. She defeated Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who scored 1,909 votes.
The APC and Young Progressives Party (YPP) came behind with 1,371 and 655 votes respectively. Azikiwe succeeds Justice Azuka, who was abducted and later killed.
The APC retained control of the Remo Federal Constituency in Ogun State as Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji secured victory with 41,237 votes. He beat PDP’s Bola Oluwole, who polled 14,324, while the ADC managed only 289 votes.
In Edo, the APC posted overwhelming margins. In Edo Central, Joseph Ikpea amassed 105,129 votes to defeat PDP’s Joe Okojie, who got 15,146. In Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion delivered another sweeping victory with 77,053 votes against PDP’s Johnny Aikpitanyi, who managed just 3,838.
The party also swept Kogi, where Hassan Shado clinched the Okura State Constituency seat with 55,073 votes, leaving PDP’s candidate with 1,038.
The PDP’s biggest breakthrough came in Oyo State, where Folajinmi Oyekunle recaptured the Ibadan North Federal Constituency with 18,404 votes, unseating the APC, which polled 8,312. The win marks the PDP’s first return to the constituency since 2011.
In Kano, the NNPP held on to its traditional base, with Ali Alhassan – also listed by INEC as Dr. Ali Kiyawa – winning Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency with 16,198 votes, defeating APC’s Ahmad Kadamu who got 5,347. But the APC bounced back in Ghari/Tsanyawa, where Garba Gwarmai emerged victorious with 31,472 votes against NNPP’s Yusuf Maigado, who scored 27,931 in a supplementary poll.
Overall, the elections underscored the entrenched dominance of ruling parties at federal and state levels: APC consolidating its nationwide hold, PDP making a comeback in Oyo, APGA tightening its grip in Anambra, and NNPP reaffirming its relevance in Kano.
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