President Bola Tinubu has congratulated winners of the by-elections conducted on Saturday across 16 constituencies in 12 states, commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what he described as “hitch-free elections, mostly devoid of violence.”
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President hailed the conduct of the electoral body and called on political parties to embrace sportsmanship.
“Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has shown leadership capacity and demonstrated what is achievable when popular candidates are fielded and with unity of purpose among party leaders,” Tinubu said while congratulating the new APC National Chairman on what he called an “emphatic first victory” under his leadership.
The President also thanked the electorate for their confidence in the All Progressives Congress (APC), assuring them that his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda would deliver a “better, more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
“Following the results declared by INEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 12 constituencies, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won in two, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in one, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won in one.
“To all APC faithful and the electorate, thank you for the confidence reposed in our party. Be assured that our Renewed Hope slogan is not a mere slogan. Our destination is a better, more secure and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
President Tinubu applauded all political parties and candidates who took part in the polls, urging them “to continue to be guided by the spirit of sportsmanship, fair contest and magnanimity, which are enablers of enduring democracy.”
Statewide Results
In Kaduna State, APC swept all three contests, including the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency.
Felix Bagudu of the APC polled 34,580 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, who garnered 11,491 votes. The victory marked the first time the ruling party has won in Chikun and Kajuru since the return of democracy in 1999.
Similarly, in Taraba State, APC’s Abner Shittu emerged winner of the Karim One constituency seat with 5,895 votes, edging PDP’s Ali Kanda, who scored 5,488 in a close race.
In Oyo State, PDP’s Folajimi Oyekunle was declared winner of the Ibadan North federal constituency, defeating APC’s Adewale Olatunji.
In Zamfara, however, the Kaura-Namoda South constituency election was declared inconclusive after cancellations in two wards left the margin of lead smaller than the number of affected voters.
Party Reactions
The NNPP rejected the outcome of the Tsanyawa/Ghari constituency election in Kano State, accusing INEC of collusion with “unpatriotic politicians” and faulting the collation process.
Meanwhile, APGA celebrated its victory in Anambra, with Governor Chukwuma Soludo declaring on Sunday in the Nanka area of the state that the results proved the Labour Party (LP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were “dead” and “non-existent” in the state.
He told supporters that APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu’s landslide win in the Anambra South senatorial district, replacing the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, highlighted the party’s dominance.
INEC said the by-elections were held to fill vacancies created by resignations and deaths of sitting lawmakers, with polls conducted across senatorial, federal and state constituencies in Jigawa, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Kogi, Niger, Enugu and Zamfara states.
