By-Elections: APC Wins In Enugu, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kano; PDP Clinches Rivers

By Ahmed Tahir, Lafia, Kabir Wurma, Birnin Kebbi; Longtong Yakubu, Kano, Nnamdi Mbawike, Enugu, and Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victories in the by-elections held in Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kano and Enugu states, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat.

The by-elections were conducted over the weekend to fill vacant federal and state legislative seats.

APC Reclaims Nasarawa North Senate Seat

The APC reclaimed the Nasarawa North Senatorial District seat after its candidate, Halilu Dangadi Envwulanza, was declared the winner of Saturday’s by-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Returning Officer, Professor Aminu Ali, announced the result at the Collation Centre, College of Education, Akwanga, after the collation of votes from Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon and Wamba local government areas.

Envwulanza polled 45,362 votes to defeat the Labour Party candidate, Maku Labaran, who secured 12,931 votes. The PDP candidate, Emmanuel David Ombugadu, came third with 11,570 votes, while the ADC candidate, Alaku Mohammed Steve, polled 1,496 votes. The NNPP candidate, John Wall Araneshiri, scored 102 votes.

“Halilu Dangadi Envwulanza of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Prof. Ali declared.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki in December 2025.

Envwulanza, a former Secretary of the National Judicial Council (NJC), had contested the same seat in 2023 but lost to the late Akwashiki.

The exercise, however, witnessed protests from Labour Party agents led by Dr. Ben Ango, who staged a walkout at the collation centre after the results were announced.

Although Dr. Ango declined to speak with journalists, party officials faulted the collation process, while Labour Party candidate Maku Labaran alleged BVAS glitches and ballot irregularities in some polling units.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, who voted in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area, commended INEC for the smooth conduct of the poll, describing it as an opportunity for the people of Nasarawa North to “say thank you to the APC.”

INEC described the exercise as orderly and transparent despite minor technical hitches with BVAS machines, which were promptly resolved.

APC Wins Kebbi Assembly By-Election

In Kebbi State, the APC candidate, Rabiu Garba Aiki, emerged victorious in the by-election for the Zuru State Constituency seat in the State House of Assembly.

Declaring the result at the collation centre in Zuru, the Returning Officer, Professor Muhammad Bashar Danladi of the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, announced that Aiki polled 4,871 votes to defeat the Labour Party candidate, Aliyu Galadima Muhammad, who secured 168 votes.

According to Prof. Danladi, the constituency has 109,385 registered voters, while 5,156 voters were accredited for the election.

He added that 95 votes were rejected, while 5,055 valid votes were recorded.

The by-election was conducted following the death of the member representing Zuru Constituency in the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Mohammed Usman Zuru, who died recently in Cairo, Egypt.

APC Candidate Wins Kano By-Election

In Kano State, the APC candidate, Rabiu Shuaibu, emerged victorious in the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency by-election.

INEC declared Shuaibu the winner after he secured the highest number of votes cast in the election.

The Returning Officer, Professor Umar Sani, announced that the APC candidate polled 35,356 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Lawal Haruna of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who scored 268 votes.

The Labour Party candidate, Abubakar Muhammad, polled 98 votes.

“Rabiu Shuaibu of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Prof. Sani declared.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of the former member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Muhammad Hassan of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The election was held across Dawakin Kudu and Warawa local government areas under tight security.

APC Celebrates Enugu Victory

The APC also recorded a major victory in the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, where its candidate, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, was declared winner.

Reacting to the outcome, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye, attributed the party’s success to the support of Governor Peter Mbah and party leaders.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ignatius Okpara, Nwoye thanked the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) for their support.

“Our candidate was a fantastic product that needed little advertisement to market,” he said.

Nwoye also commended Governor Peter Mbah for providing an enabling political environment that ensured a hitch-free election across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.

Asogwa was declared winner after polling 162,360 votes out of the 184,094 votes cast.

His closest challenger, Dr. Nestor Ezeme of the PDP, polled 9,299 votes.

Nwoye further appreciated APC members for turning out en masse despite heavy rainfall.

“Your massive turnout and participation on Saturday, despite the heavy downpour, speak volumes about your love for our great party, the APC, and the nation’s democratic process.

“We are indeed grateful to you all for believing in our party. The national leadership of the APC, under the watch of our amiable National Chairman, Professor Yilwatda, will not take this support for granted.

“Rest assured that your incoming distinguished senator, Ikeje Asogwa, will make you and the zone proud at the National Assembly,” he stated.

PDP Retains Rivers South-East Seat

Meanwhile, the PDP retained the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat as its candidate, Olaka Nwogu, emerged victorious in Saturday’s by-election.

Announcing the result at the senatorial district collation centre in Bori, the Returning Officer, Professor Rosemary Ogu, said Nwogu polled 46,961 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Osarokaka Ebenezer Erewari, who scored 1,647 votes.

The Action Alliance candidate, Douglas Fabeke, polled 1,175 votes, while the Labour Party candidate, Sam Kinani, secured 367 votes.

“Nwogu Olaka Johnson of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Prof. Ogu declared.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Barry Mpigi in February.

Four political parties—the PDP, APC, Action Alliance and Labour Party—participated in the election across the seven local government areas of the senatorial district: Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme, Andoni, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro.