The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in four of the five by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta states, while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) claimed the remaining seat. The elections, held to fill one federal constituency seat and four state assembly seats, were announced on Sunday, September 20, as reported by The Cable.
APC Dominates in Gombe, Kano, and Delta
In Gombe State, APC candidate Kallamu MaiJama'a won the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye federal constituency seat with 41,121 votes. The Labour Party trailed in second place with 3,553 votes, while the APM secured 872 votes.
In Kano State, APC's Husseini Datti clinched the Dawakin Kudu state constituency seat with 22,890 votes. INEC returning officer Ibrahim Suraj announced that the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) received 270 votes, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) managed 108. Other parties polled significantly lower, with the Action Democratic Party at 89 votes, the Action Peoples Party at 53, and the Labour Party at 39.
Delta State saw APC candidate Okolosi Ator win the Udu state constituency poll with 8,724 votes, leaving the PDP with just 214 votes.
Bauchi Produces Split Result
The Bauchi State results deviated from the pattern observed elsewhere. In the Disina state constituency, APC's Yakubu Ali won with 5,846 votes, narrowly defeating the APM candidate's 5,225 votes and the PRP's 3,701 votes. However, in the Sakwa state constituency in Zaki Local Government Area, APM candidate Adamu Yakubu secured an upset victory with 8,515 votes. The APC finished second with 3,771 votes, followed by the PDP on 2,076 and the PRP on 727.
Logistics, Turnout, and Security Challenges
Reports from the four states described the polls as largely peaceful, with logistics running on schedule in most areas. However, low voter turnout was observed in Gombe and Kano, while BVAS device failures disrupted the exercise in Delta. In Bauchi, the state police command reported arresting 47 suspects at polling units in Shira Local Government Area. The suspects were allegedly impersonating members of a state-owned security outfit and were found carrying guns, cutlasses, and sticks.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said the by-elections would serve as an operational learning exercise to sharpen the commission's readiness ahead of the 2027 general elections. The results underscore the APC's dominance in the contested seats, with the APM's victory in Sakwa representing the only break in the ruling party's sweep of the by-elections.
