Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has congratulated the winner and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday by-election for Enugu North Senatorial District, Ikeje Asogwa, describing the victory as an affirmation of APC's acceptance and dominance in the state's politics.
INEC Declares APC's Asogwa Winner
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, declared APC's Asogwa winner of the senatorial seat formerly won in 2023 by Labour Party's Senator Okey Ezea, who died after an illness in November 2025. The district covers Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Uzo-Uwani, Igbo-Etiti, and Udenu Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Returning Officer, Christian Ezeibe, a professor who announced the result in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC office in the LGA, said Asogwa polled a total of 162,360 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nestor Ezeme of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 9,299 votes.
Governor Mbah's Reaction
Reacting, Governor Mbah described it as a “statement victory,” noting that the people of the senatorial district had not only made the best choice for quality representation, but had also demonstrated total alignment with the APC.
“On behalf of the Government and good people of Enugu State, I congratulate Chief Ikeje Asogwa on this resounding victory. It is a statement and landmark victory both for us as an administration and for the APC as a party. If anybody was in doubt, the landslide victory proves, beyond rhetoric, that APC has now emerged as the unquestionable dominant political force across the length and breadth of our state. Our people are fully aligned. It is also a vote of confidence in Chief Ikeje Asogwa, a people's champion, who has distinguished himself in the service of his people and the state. There is no doubt that his presence at the centre will strengthen state-federal government partnership and the inflow of dividends of democracy,” Mr Mbah stated.
Implications for Enugu Politics
The by-election result marks a significant shift in Enugu North's political landscape, with APC reclaiming a seat previously held by Labour Party. Asogwa's overwhelming margin—over 153,000 votes ahead of the PDP candidate—underscores the party's growing influence in the region. Political analysts view this as a key indicator of APC's consolidation in Enugu State ahead of future elections.
