INEC By-Elections: APC Sweeps Four States, PDP Holds Rivers South-East Seat

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the winners of five of the six 2026 by-elections, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerging as the biggest winner after securing victories in Enugu, Ondo, Kano and Kebbi, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat.

The by-elections, held on Saturday, were conducted to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly created by the deaths, resignation and appointment of former lawmakers. However, the result of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District election is still being awaited as collation continues.

In Enugu State, the APC recorded a major breakthrough as Ikeje Asogwa won the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election with 162,360 votes. His closest challenger, PDP candidate Chief Nestor Ezeme, polled 9,299 votes. The election was held to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Okey Ezea, who passed away on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62.

The PDP, however, successfully defended its stronghold in Rivers State. Its candidate, Olaka Nwogu, secured 47,961 votes to defeat APC candidate Osar Erewari, who garnered 1,647 votes, thereby retaining the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat. The by-election followed the death of Senator Barry Mpigi earlier this year.

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In Ondo State, APC candidate Dayo Faduyile cruised to victory in the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election with 68,474 votes, defeating Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), who received 1,411 votes. The senatorial seat became vacant after former senator Jimoh Ibrahim was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The ruling party also strengthened its representation in the House of Representatives as Rabiu Shuaibu won the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency by-election in Kano State. Shuaibu polled 35,356 votes, comfortably ahead of Lawal Garba-Haruna of the APM, who secured 268 votes, while Labour Party candidate Abubakar Yahaya-Muhammad received 98 votes. The poll was conducted following the death of former lawmaker Muhammad Danjuma-Hassan of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

In Kebbi State, the APC continued its winning streak with Rabiu Garba Aiki emerging victorious in the Zuru State Constituency by-election into the State House of Assembly. Aiki polled 4,887 votes, defeating Labour Party candidate Aliyu Galadima Muhammad, who scored 168 votes. The election was held to replace former Speaker Muhammad Usman Zuru, whose death created the vacancy.

Meanwhile, INEC has yet to announce the outcome of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election. Voting took place across Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba Local Government Areas, where voters are electing a successor to late Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who died after a prolonged illness.

Full List of Declared Winners

• Enugu North Senatorial District: Ikeje Asogwa (APC) – 162,360 votes
• Rivers South-East Senatorial District: Olaka Nwogu (PDP) – 47,961 votes
• Ondo South Senatorial District: Dayo Faduyile (APC) – 68,474 votes
• Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency, Kano: Rabiu Shuaibu (APC) – 35,356 votes
• Zuru State Constituency, Kebbi: Rabiu Garba Aiki (APC) – 4,887 votes

With five results already declared, the APC has captured four seats, reinforcing its presence in the National Assembly and state legislature, while the PDP maintained its hold on Rivers South-East. Political stakeholders are now focused on the pending Nasarawa North result, which will complete the nationwide by-election exercise.

INEC By-Elections: APC Sweeps Four States, PDP Holds Rivers South-East Seat

Ekiti Election: Aisha Yesufu Blasts EFCC, Calls for Decriminalisation of Vote Buying

Rights activist and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has sparked a heated debate after she blasted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged vote-buying during Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, arguing that the practice should be decriminalised in Nigeria. Reacting to widespread reports of voter inducement in the election, Yesufu took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her frustration with the inability of authorities to curb the menace. She argued that law-abiding citizens are the ones who end up being punished while perpetrators buy votes and “waltz their way into office”. “At this rate, vote buying should be decriminalized in Nigeria. It does not make sense since it is those who are law abiding that gets punished for it!” she wrote. “They do not do the vote buying and they are schemed out while others buy votes and waltz their way into office. @officialEFCC ‘s eagle is blindfolded during election”. The activist also made a sarcastic suggestion, proposing that politicians abandon expensive campaigns and simply wait for Election Day to bargain with voters. “Instead of candidates wasting money on campaigns, let everyone wait for Election Day and bargain. The highest bidder wins and you save your money. This nonsense needs to stop,” she added.

Yesufu’s comments came amid a wave of allegations of electoral malpractice in the Ekiti governorship election, which featured 1,059,360 registered voters across 2,445 polling units. Reports from Aramoko Ekiti, the hometown of the mother of incumbent governor and APC candidate Biodun Oyebanji, suggested that multiple voters openly admitted to receiving cash to influence their choices. According to reports, some voters claimed they received ₦10,000 from agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ₦2,000 from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). At Polling Unit 004, Chief Ologbodo’s House in Aramoko, party agents were allegedly seen approaching voters with cash offers openly. The ADC governorship candidate, Dare Bejide, also alleged vote-buying and cash distribution at his polling unit, while police and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reportedly declined immediate response. Bejide claimed that some APC chieftains and supporters stormed the area with cash and political thugs, creating tension at the polling centre, and that his driver was assaulted and sustained injuries during the commotion.

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In a dramatic turn of events, operatives of the EFCC were reportedly chased away by angry voters at Polling Unit 10, Ward B, in Iyin-Ekiti. The anti-graft team arrived to crack down on suspected vote-buying but met stiff resistance from the crowd, with voters confronting the officials and demanding their immediate departure. Insisting there was no evidence of financial malpractice at their station, the confrontational voters successfully forced the operatives to leave the scene. Earlier in the day, a separate team of about ten anti-graft officials had also stormed Governor Oyebanji’s personal polling unit, Polling Unit 003 in Ikogosi, Ekiti West Local Government Area, to monitor the environment just after voting commenced, though no arrests were made.

Despite the allegations, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election. The Returning Officer announced that Oyebanji secured a total of 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rivals: Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 40,543 votes, and Dare Bejide of the ADC with 12,872 votes. A total of 384,940 voters were accredited for the election, while 375,777 valid votes were recorded, with 6,332 votes rejected. The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called on INEC and security agencies to immediately investigate allegations of vote-buying, pre-thumbprinted ballot papers, and the suspected distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during the election. The group expressed particular concern over reports and videos circulating on social media suggesting attempts to compromise the integrity of the election. “Silence or inaction by relevant authorities, especially INEC, could further erode public trust in Nigeria’s democracy,” the group said.

Ekiti Election: Aisha Yesufu Blasts EFCC, Calls for Decriminalisation of Vote Buying

INEC Declares Oyebanji Winner of Ekiti Governorship Election, Sweeps All 16 LGAs (Full Results)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, securing a second term in office after a landslide victory across the state.

The declaration was made in the early hours of Sunday by the Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, at the State Collation Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

Announcing the final results, Oladiji stated that Oyebanji had fulfilled all constitutional requirements and scored the highest number of valid votes cast.

“Therefore, I, Adenike Oladiji, the Returning Officer for the 2026 Ekiti Governorship Election, hereby declare that Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”

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Biodun Oyebanji Wins by Wide Margin

According to the final results announced by INEC, Biodun Oyebanji polled 319,224 votes, defeating his closest challenger, Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 40,533 votes.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Dare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes, giving the APC candidate a winning margin of 278,691 votes.

Election Statistics

INEC disclosed that:

• Registered voters: 988,251
• Accredited voters: 384,940
• Total votes cast: 382,109
• Valid votes: 375,777
• Rejected votes: 6,332

The figures represent a voter turnout of approximately 39 per cent.

APC Dominates All 16 Local Government Areas

A major highlight of the election was the APC’s clean sweep of all 16 local government areas, including Efon Local Government Area, the hometown of PDP candidate Olumayokun Oluyede.

Ekiti Governorship Election Results by Local Government

Final Votes

Second Term Secured

With the declaration, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has secured another four-year mandate and will continue leading Ekiti State until 2030.

The election was largely peaceful, with security agencies, observers and party agents monitoring voting and collation across the state.

The overwhelming victory further strengthens the APC’s dominance in Ekiti State and provides Oyebanji with a renewed mandate to pursue his administration’s programmes in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic development.

INEC Declares Oyebanji Winner of Ekiti Governorship Election, Sweeps All 16 LGAs (Full Results)