(DDM) – The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has swept the just-concluded bye-elections across 12 states, sparking outrage from opposition parties who described the exercise as tainted by fraud, violence, and vote buying.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that APC secured 12 out of the 16 legislative seats contested, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, claimed two seats, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won one, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, also secured one.
In Kano State, the results were split as APC won the Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency, while NNPP retained its stronghold with victory in Shanono/Bagwai, thereby maintaining its majority in the state assembly with 26 seats against APC’s 14.
In Anambra, APGA celebrated two major victories, winning the Anambra South senatorial seat with Emmanuel Nwachukwu and clinching the Onitsha North I assembly seat through Ifeoma Azikiwe.
However, the process in Anambra was marred by violence as the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, and Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Felix Odimegwu, were reportedly attacked in Nnewi South amid widespread allegations of vote buying and voter intimidation.
The PDP managed a lone victory in Oyo State, where Folajimi Oyekunle won the Ibadan North House of Representatives seat, giving the opposition a symbolic foothold despite overall poor performance.
In Ogun State, APC’s Princess Adesola Elegbeji triumphed in the Remo federal constituency, defeating PDP’s Ogundele Adesegun with a margin of 41,237 votes to 14,324 votes.
Edo State also turned red for the ruling party as APC’s Joseph Ikpea captured the Edo Central senatorial seat, while Omosede Igbinedion claimed victory in the Ovia House of Representatives contest.
In Kaduna, APC tightened its grip with decisive wins in Chikun/Kajuru and Zaria Kewaye/Basawa constituencies, while in Niger, Matthew Daje of APC won the Munya assembly seat.
Taraba State saw APC’s Abner Shittu emerge victorious in Karim Lamido I, while in Jigawa, Rabi’u Mukhtar Garki won the Babura/Garki House of Representatives seat for the ruling party.
Reacting to the outcome, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated APC candidates, describing the results as a clear endorsement of his Renewed Hope agenda.
The APC also attributed its success to the leadership of its new national chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, stressing that the victories represented a solid foundation ahead of 2027.
But the opposition parties sharply disagreed.
The PDP condemned the polls as a repeat of the 2023 “sham elections,” accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of colluding with APC to subvert the will of the people.
PDP further demanded urgent restructuring of INEC, sweeping amendments to the Electoral Act, and even proposed placing the electoral body under the supervision of the National Judicial Council.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, described the exercise as a “dress rehearsal for 2027 chaos,” lamenting the brazen deployment of thuggery, state power, and financial inducements to manipulate the process.
The Labour Party, LP, declared the bye-elections a “mockery of democracy,” urging President Tinubu to ensure genuine reforms that would restore integrity to Nigeria’s electoral system.
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, also warned that APC’s victories in off-cycle polls should not be mistaken for genuine national acceptance, noting that low voter turnout, vote buying, and intimidation distorted the true picture of public support.
Political analysts believe the outcome further consolidates APC’s dominance but also heightens opposition fears of a deeply compromised road to 2027.
The stage is now set for fierce legal battles, especially in Kano where both APC and NNPP are threatening to contest disputed results in court.