The All Progressives Congress secured six of seven electoral contests held across Nigeria on Saturday, sweeping the Ekiti State governorship race and five simultaneous bye-elections, while conceding the Rivers South-East senatorial seat to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti became the first candidate to win consecutive governorship elections in the state, polling 319,224 votes against PDP’s Dr Wole Oluyede, who garnered 40,543 votes. Ambassador Dare Bejide of the ADC placed third with 12,872 votes.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti after his re-election, Oyebanji described the outcome as unprecedented and said the poll was conducted without a single incident of violence. “You have spoken loudly and unequivocally, and I have heard you clearly,” he told supporters, pledging to “work harder and smarter” in his second term. He also confirmed he had personally called both Oluyede and Bejide to congratulate them.
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Ekiti voters for their peaceful conduct and urged Oyebanji to remain magnanimous in victory and carry all citizens along as he consolidates his first-term gains in infrastructure, agriculture, education and healthcare.
Progressive Governors Forum chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma described Oyebanji’s landslide as an endorsement of APC governance nationwide.
The ADC’s Bejide, however, rejected the results, alleging vote buying and what he called “electoral robbery,” and said his party would pursue legal remedies. Civic election observer Yiaga Africa also raised concerns, reporting that BVAS devices failed to verify voters in 10 percent of polling units and that ballot secrecy was compromised in 17 percent of locations.
Rivers seat goes to PDP’s Nwogu
In Rivers State, PDP’s Senator Olaka Nwogu — an ally of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike — won the Rivers South-East senatorial bye-election with 46,961 votes, comfortably defeating APC’s Osarokaka Erewari, who polled just 1,647 votes. The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Barry Mpigi in February. The Action Alliance candidate rejected the result and threatened legal action, alleging that INEC officials allowed result materials to be taken to private homes and instructed agents not to upload results digitally.
APC sweeps remaining contests
In Nasarawa, Danladi Halilu Envulu-Anza of the APC won the Nasarawa North senatorial bye-election with 45,362 votes. Labour Party’s Labaran Maku, a former Information Minister, came second with 12,931 votes and promptly vowed to challenge the result in court.
In Kano, APC’s Rabiu Shuaibu won the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa federal constituency bye-election with 35,356 votes — the seat had been vacated by the death of NNPP lawmaker Muhammad Danjuma-Hassan.
In Ondo, Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the APC, a former president of the Nigerian Medical Association, won the Ondo South senatorial bye-election with 68,474 votes against a field of candidates who collectively polled fewer than 1,700 votes.
Results from Enugu and Kebbi were not fully detailed in official returns at the time of filing.
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