• APC’s defeat in Ibadan North wake-up call for reconciliation, says Adelabu
• Sani takes swipe at el-Rufai, says no ballot boxes on Twitter
Disputes trailed Saturday’s by-elections across several states yesterday, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna, and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano rejected results, alleging vote-buying, voter intimidation, and collusion involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and the ruling party.
In Oyo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Folajimi Oyekunle of the Peoples Democratic Party the winner of the poll with 18,404 votes, ahead of the APC candidate, Adewale Olatunji, who secured 8,312 votes.
However, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC accused the ruling PDP of employing “desperate tactics reminiscent of the Obasanjo-era do-or-die politics.”
“Regrettably, established cases of irregularities characterised the conduct of the by-election in Ibadan North,” the statement read. “Electoral officials and security agents were either compromised or looked the other way while PDP agents freely engaged in vote-buying and other sharp practices.”
The APC alleged that large sums of money were distributed by PDP operatives at polling units, with voters without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) allowed to cast ballots under the watch of INEC officials.
“In Ward 07, a known PDP stalwart was caught buying votes but was later released without consequence,” Sadare claimed. The opposition party further accused the Park Management System (PMS), allegedly under the control of pro-government actors, of deploying armed thugs to intimidate voters in key areas of the constituency, including Yemetu, Bodija, Mokola, Agbowo, and Alli-Iwo.
“These fierce-looking, weapon-wielding men moved freely and created an atmosphere of fear while voting was ongoing. It was a complete mockery of democracy,” the statement added.
Despite its grievances, the APC maintained that it remains committed to democratic ideals and free and fair elections. Sadare said the party is compiling evidence of alleged infractions and would soon announce its next steps.
“We appeal to all our members and supporters across the state to remain calm and maintain faith in the leadership of the APC at all levels,” he said.
SIMILARLY, the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State rejected the outcome of the election, which produced victories for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In a statement issued yesterday, the PDP State Chairman, Edward Percy Masha, said the party would not accept the results in the three constituencies where the elections were held, adding that consultations were ongoing with candidates, stakeholders, and legal advisers to determine the next line of action.
“The unprecedented low voter turnout is a testament to the lack of confidence in the process, exacerbated by Governor Uba Sani’s failure to conduct the 2024 local government election in the state,” Masha said. He warned that if the trend continued, voter apathy could deepen ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We are afraid that if this undemocratic trend continues, the problem of voter apathy will only worsen and reach a dangerous peak by 2027,” he added.
Masha urged residents of Kaduna to continue supporting the PDP, saying the party was undergoing reforms to strengthen its structures and ensure better representation.
“We urge the good people of Kaduna State to continue trusting and supporting the PDP. We are undergoing reforms to strengthen our structures and ensure better representation for all. Together, we will restore dignity, fairness, and genuine democracy in our dear state,” he said.
He thanked voters in Basawa, Zaria Kewaye, and Chikun/Kajuru constituencies for what he described as their “overwhelming support” during the August 16 by-elections.
“We also express our profound appreciation to our party stakeholders for their critical roles before, during, and after the elections. Their dedication has further strengthened the PDP and reinforced the loyalty of our teeming supporters across Kaduna State,” he added.
Masha accused the APC of desperation, alleging that the government deployed “gestapo and commando” tactics to undermine the elections.
“The abduction of our candidate and members of our campaign committee for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, seizure of funds meant for logistics and agents’ allowances, and massive vote buying were carried out in full public glare, showcasing the APC’s shameless disregard for democracy,” he said.
Ex-CPC scribe accuses APC of rigging Kano by-election
A former National Secretary of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Buba Galadima, accused the All Progressives Congress of manipulating the outcome of last Saturday’s by-election in Gari/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, to the disadvantage of the New Nigeria People’s Party.
Speaking on a television programme, Politics Today, Galadima alleged that the result, which declared APC candidate Garba Gwarmai winner with 31,472 votes against NNPP’s Yusuf Maigado, who polled 27,931, was rigged.
He claimed that original figures from the field before collation showed the NNPP in the lead, but were later altered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“The result was actually in favour of the NNPP candidate before INEC tampered with it. What happened in Kano was outright daylight robbery,” Galadima alleged.
He further accused INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Government of colluding to frustrate the NNPP, which controls the Kano State government. According to him, the election was characterised by vote-buying and irregularities.
“Vote buying was the order of the day. Security agencies looked the other way while the APC distributed money to voters. The Federal Government, INEC, and the police all colluded to deny the NNPP its rightful victory,” he said.
The Gari/Tsanyawa constituency poll was one of several bye-elections held across 12 states.
The Kano exercise drew particular attention, given the state’s large voting population and the fierce rivalry between the APC and NNPP since the 2023 general elections, when the NNPP, under Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, swept most elective positions.
INEC has, however, defended the credibility of the nationwide exercise, insisting that the results reflected votes cast at polling units. Galadima also argued that the by-election outcome showed the APC could be challenged and defeated in 2027, but alleged that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party were already plotting to rig the general elections. He accused the Federal Government of pressuring governors to defect or risk removal from office.
“The federal government is not even suggesting that the governors would be voted out, but that they would be removed from power,” he said.
APC’s defeat in Ibadan North wake-up call for reconciliation, says Adelabu
MEANWHILE, reacting to APC’s loss in Ibadan North, the Minister of Power and chieftain of the party in Oyo State, Adebayo Adelabu, described the party’s experience as painful but instructive.
Adelabu, in a statement issued yesterday through his media aide, Bolaji Tunji, congratulated the winner, Folajimi Oyekunle of the Peoples Democratic Party, but stressed that the outcome should serve as a wake-up call for deep introspection, reconciliation, and collective action within the APC.
“I received the outcome with mixed feelings, sad that we lost as a party, but humbled by the people’s verdict. This defeat should inspire us to reflect, heal internal divisions and reconcile genuinely ahead of 2027, which presents another opportunity for our party,” he said.
While noting that the APC remains a strong and progressive party with a record of impactful governance, Adelabu said the result underscored the urgent need for unity, cohesion, and renewed commitment to the people’s welfare.
“Elections are not merely about winning or losing; they reflect the people’s confidence in our leadership and our capacity to deliver on their aspirations,” he added.
The minister observed that voter apathy, even among party members, was a clear indication that grievances and internal divisions contributed to the poor outing.
“We cannot afford to ignore the voices of discontent within our fold or take the support of our constituents for granted. Now, more than ever, we must put aside personal ambitions, bridge existing gaps and rebuild trust with the electorate,” he said.
Adelabu, however, cautioned against interpreting the PDP’s victory as a show of popularity, citing the low voter turnout of about 13 per cent. He alleged that the ruling party relied heavily on state resources and vote buying to secure the seat, adding that such a strategy would not be sustainable in 2027.
“One local government, which houses the seat of government, cannot be used to generalise the popularity of the ruling party across the state. The 2027 elections will be different, as the governor’s influence will naturally wane. If we put our house in order, the tide will certainly turn in our favour,” he said.
Sani takes swipe at El-Rufai, says no ballot boxes on Twitter
KADUNA State Governor, Uba Sani, has cautioned members of the All Progressives Congress against relying on social media propaganda, declaring that “there are no ballot boxes on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.”
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting of the APC in Kaduna yesterday, following the party’s victory in Saturday’s by-election, the governor said the opposition dwelt on “Twitter battles and Facebook noise,” while the APC focused on grassroots mobilisation, inclusivity and governance, which delivered success at the polls.
“There is no ballot box on Twitter. There is no ballot box on Instagram or Facebook. Elections are won at the grassroots, not on social media,” Sani said to loud applause from party members.
The comments were widely seen as a subtle swipe at his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, who is known for his strong social media presence and frequent political interventions on Twitter (now X).
Sani insisted that propaganda could not win elections, adding, “Our opponents chose to fight the propaganda battle, but we chose to fight the political battle. They lost because the people know who is working for them. We will not waste our time on social media noise-making.”
Kano police charge 333 suspected thugs over by-election violence
THE Kano State Police Command has charged 333 suspected political thugs arrested during Saturday’s by-elections to court for electoral offences.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed this yesterday while briefing journalists on security operations during the Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa state constituency elections.
Bakori confirmed that the elections witnessed cases of violence allegedly orchestrated by “unscrupulous individuals” who were imported into the state to disrupt the process.
According to him, security operatives intercepted large numbers of thugs armed with dangerous weapons, including cutlasses, pump-action rifles and locally made pistols.
Although he did not reveal the political affiliation of those arrested, the police commissioner said the suspects were being prosecuted for disorderly conduct, possession of offensive weapons, intimidation, and the snatching and destruction of election materials.
“The elections, which were conducted under challenging circumstances, witnessed attempts by unscrupulous individuals to disrupt the process through the massive importation of thugs from within and outside the state.
“However, through the steadfast efforts of the Kano State Police Command and our partner security agencies, during the election process in Ghari, Bagwai and Shanono Councils, a total of 333 suspects were apprehended.
“These suspects were arrested for disrupting the electoral process, and exhibits recovered include a pump-action rifle, locally made guns, clogs, swords, cutlasses, locally made ‘Barandami’ weapons and N4,048,000.00 cash.
“All the arrested suspects have been charged to Magistrate Courts 20, 27, 44 Nomansland Kano, and Magistrate Courts Number 8 and 53, Gyadi-Gyadi Kano today for prosecution under various electoral offences,” Bakori said. He added that the command remained committed to ensuring justice and holding accountable those who attempt to undermine the democratic process.
APC chairman predicts landslide victory in 2027 elections
THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has expressed confidence that the ruling party will record a landslide victory in the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda made the remark yesterday when members of the APC Press Corps paid him a condolence visit over the death of his mother. He said the outcome of the recent by-elections across the country had reaffirmed the APC as the most acceptable party in Nigeria. He pointed to the inability of opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, to stop the APC’s winning streak in states such as Kaduna, Adamawa, Anambra and Taraba.
“If you look at it, where the opposition leaders are, we all defeated them in all those locations. From Kaduna to Kano to Adamawa to Taraba. So we just made it clear that our party is a leading party,” he said.
“We are also not just a ruling party, but we are the leading party and the preferred party in Nigeria. And preferred by Nigerians. Because if you have 75 per cent acceptance by the people across the country, our success is not just in the north but also in the south.
“Both North and South, we had clear victories. In the south-south, we had clear victories. In the South-West, we had clear victories. In the North-West, we had clear victories. In the North-East, we had clear victories. In the north-central, we had clear victories.
“It tells you that in Nigeria APC is the most accepted party across the country. And that’s the same thing we’ve made in Nigeria. So expect that 2027 is going to be the same thing.”
APC mourns slain ward chairman, rejects Anambra by-election results
THE All Progressives Congress in Anambra State is in mourning following the killing of its chairman in Nri, popularly known as Ogazi. The deceased party official was reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen on August 16 during the Anambra South Senatorial and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-elections. Nri is the hometown of Senator Uche Ekwunife, the APC deputy governorship candidate in the November 8 election.
The incident occurred as the Independent National Electoral Commission declared candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winners of both polls.
The returning officer, Prof. Ibiam Ekpe of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, announced that Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu of APGA won the Anambra South Senatorial seat with 90,408 votes, defeating APC’s Chief Azuka Okwuosa, who scored 19,812, and Donald Amamgbo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who secured 2,889.
In Onitsha North 1 constituency, Ifeoma Mimi Azikiwe of APGA polled 7,774 votes to defeat Mrs Justina Azuka of ADC, who scored 1,909 votes. Azikiwe will become the second female lawmaker in the 30-member state House of Assembly.
Other candidates included Mr Ezennia Ojekwe of the APC, who scored 1,371 votes, and Ms Njideka Ndiwe of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), who polled 655 votes.
Mrs Azuka, the ADC candidate, is the widow of the slain lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka, whose body was discovered near the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, 2025, after he was abducted on Christmas Eve in Onitsha.
Observers commend IReV performance in some states, fault poor uploads in others
THE Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has released its preliminary observation report on Saturday’s by-elections held across 12 states, highlighting mixed performances of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
In a statement issued under the Athena Election Observatory (AEO) and signed by its programme lead, Sarah Eke, the organisation noted significant progress in real-time upload of results in some states, while pointing out serious lapses in others.
According to the report, all results from Oyo and Jigawa were fully uploaded on IReV by 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, 24 hours after voting concluded. Similarly, uploads for the by-elections in Kaduna, Edo, Ogun and Anambra senatorial districts exceeded 95 per cent completion within the same timeframe.
“This marks a positive shift towards greater transparency, enabling citizens and observers to independently verify results,” the statement said.
However, the group expressed concern over poor performance in other states. It noted that only two per cent of results from the Tsanyawa/Kunchi by-election in Kano had been uploaded after 24 hours. Enugu South recorded just six per cent, while Kaura Namoda in Zamfara stood at 39 per cent.
The organisation said such disparities undermine public confidence and underscored the need for stronger compliance mechanisms. The AEO recommended that, beyond polling unit results, ward collation results should also be uploaded to IReV to enhance transparency.
“Publishing results at the ward level will allow stakeholders to track how polling unit figures are aggregated, reducing opportunities for manipulation during collation,” it said.
