The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday won senatorial bye-elections in Lagos East, Imo North and Plateau South districts.
According to observers, the by-elections, which were the first critical assignments by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mohammed Yakubu, who was cleared by the Senate for his second term last week, were generally peaceful.
The APC candidate in the Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru, defeated his PDP rival, Babatunde Gbadamosi. Abiru, who polled 89,204 votes, defeated Gbadamosi, who got 11,257 votes.
APC holds down Lagos
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated Abiru and Kosofe Constituency II candidate Obafemi Saheed for their victories.
Saheed polled 12,494 votes to beat his rival, Sikiru Alebiosu of PDP, who got 2,068.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said APC’s victory with wide margin reflected the confidence of Lagosians in the ruling party.
The governor commended the electorate for trooping out to perform their civic responsibilities. He also lauded chieftains of the party and members for working assiduously for victory.
Tension in Zamfara
In Zamfara, the PDP asked the Returning Officer for the Bakura Constituency, Prof. Ibrahim Magatawa, to step aside.
In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accused Prof Magatawa of plots to rig the poll in favour of the APC.
The electoral commission had declared the election inconclusive, following its cancellation in some areas. INEC had fixed next Saturday to conclude the election.
Ologbondiyan said: “The PDP demands the immediate removal of Prof. Magatawa as his embarrassing pronouncement has betrayed a plot to use the planned re-run in 14 polling units where election was cancelled under unclear circumstances, to rob our party of our victory in the Bakura State Constituency by-election.
“Our party and Nigerians were shocked when, in declaring the election inconclusive, given that the total number of registered voters in the 14 polling units is 11,439 higher than the 2,181 difference between the 18,645 votes scored by the PDP and 16,464 votes garnered by the APC, Prof. Magatawa openly suggested that the rerun will give the APC upper hand over the PDP”.
Plateau’s first female senator
History was made in Plateau over the weekend as APC candidate in Plateau South Prof. Nora Dabu’ut, was declared winner.
According to the results announced by INEC, Prof. Idris A female, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia, Nassarawa State, said, Dabu’ut polled of 83,151 votes while George Daika, PDP rival, got 70,838 votes.
Mrs Dabu’ut defeated her opponent in four out of the six local government areas in the senatorial district. while the PDP candidate, Daika, won in two local Government Areas.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong congratulated Dabu’ut for making history as the first female Senator-elect in the State.
Dabu’ut will succeed the late Senator Ignatius Longjan.
Bauchi Bye-Election
In Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed enjoined PDP members to accept defeat at the Assembly by-election with dignity and sportsmanship.
The governor who described the defeat as the will of God, urged party faithful not to be divided by the temporary setback.
The governor in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media , Muktar Gidado and made available to reporters Sunday said the loss was a lesson, adding that ‘his government and the PDP need to plan to regain their lost ground with chivalry, tactics and team work.’
He added: “We lost 21 House of Assembly seats and 3 Senate seats in 2019 but Allah gave us victory in the gubernatorial election. Let us not play to the gallery by indulging in blame game, internal rancor, accusations and mistrust.”
Imo North dilemma
There was drama at the INEC office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri, the state capital, when the Returning Officer, Hakeem Adikum, declared the APC winner of Imo North.
The Returning Officer said APC scored 36, 811 votes, while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the PDP scored 31, 903 votes.
According to Adikum, APC won in five out of the six local government areas in the senatorial district while PDP won in one LGA.
While PDP won in Obowo LGA where its candidate hails from.
APC won in Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano and Ihitte/ Uboma LGAs.
Cross River drama
INEC declared Dr. Stephen Odey of the PDP winner of the Cross River North by-election
Odey and Jerigbe Agom Jerigbe also of the PDP were in court.
They both obtained court orders asking INEC to accept their candidature.
Also, INEC declared the PDP candidates winner in Obudu State Constituency by-election.
Katsina stays APC
The APC candidate Dr. Ibrahim Aminu Kurami declared the winner of the Bakori State Constituency by-election.
Kurami defeated Alhaji Aminu Magaji of the PDP.
The Returning Officer of Bakori local Government State Constituency by-election, Professor A. D. Kankia, declared that Kurani scored 20,444 votes.
He will replace Alhaji Abdurrazaq Tsiga, who died in May after a protracted illness.
Enugu remains PDP
INEC declared Mrs Amaka Ugwueze, the PDP candidate of the , winner of Isi-Uzo State Constituency election.
Declaring the results at Isi-Uzo council headquarters in Ikem, INEC Collation Officer for the By-Election, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, said that Ugwueze polled 11,041 votes to defeat her close rival, Mr Ejiofor Okwor, candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 2,293 votes.
Nwachukwu said other seven political parties that contested in the by-election scored less than 70 votes each.
Borno continues tradition
The APC also won the two State Assembly seats in Borno State.
Announcing the results in Briyel, headquarters of Bayo Local Government, the INEC Returning Officer Professor Gurama Abubakar declared Maina Maigari of the APC winner with 15,484 votes to defeat six other contestants.
Also, Gajiram, Nganzai local government, the Returning Officer, Dr Kamsulum Umar declared APC candidate Mahommed Gajiram winner of the State Assembly seat with 8885 votes and returned elected.
Clean sweep PDP in Bayelsa
INEC declared former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson the winner of the Bayelsa West by-election.
Also, Moses Cleopas of PDP won in Bayelsa CentralSenatorial District
The Returning Officer, Prof. Ekechukwe Okeke, Dean of Humanities, the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State and Dickson, the PDP candidate polled 115,257 votes while his closest rival, Peremobowei Ebebi, of the APC scored 17,541 votes.
Dickson, who spoke in his country home of Toru-Orua, shortly after his return, dedicated the victory to God, the voters, Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.
