The All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded sweeping victories in Saturday’s by-elections in Rivers and Kano states and won five of the six chairmanship seats in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched Gwagwalada Area Council.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the results over the weekend.

In the FCT, APC candidate Danjuma Shekwolo won the Kuje Area Council chairmanship election with 17,269 votes. The Returning Officer, Nkiruka Odoh of the University of Abuja, declared him duly elected, having scored the highest number of valid votes and satisfied the requirements of the law. PDP’s Zakwoyi Danlami polled 15,824 votes, while Abdullahi Galadima of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured 4,305 votes.

In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), APC’s Christopher Maikalangu was returned elected after polling 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid votes cast. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) garnered 12,109 votes, while the PDP scored 3,398 votes.

APC also secured victory in Kwali Area Council, where its candidate, Daniel Nuhu, polled 17,032 votes to defeat PDP’s Haruna Pai, who scored 8,575 votes.

In Bwari Area Council, INEC declared Ishaku as the duly elected chairman after he secured 18,466 votes, defeating candidates of other political parties. The Returning Officer, Professor Mohammed Nurudeen, announced the result on Sunday in Bwari.

The ruling party extended its winning streak in Abaji Area Council, where INEC declared Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC winner with 15,535 votes. He defeated the Young Progressives Party (YPP) candidate, who polled 5,357 votes. The PDP candidate scored 4,547 votes, followed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with 53 votes and the ADC with 37 votes.

However, the PDP claimed victory in Gwagwalada Area Council. Its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, won the chairmanship seat with 22,165 votes, defeating APC’s Yahaya Shehu, who polled 17,788 votes. INEC described the Gwagwalada poll as peaceful and smoothly conducted.

In Rivers State, the APC won both state assembly by-elections conducted to fill vacant seats in the 10th Assembly.

In Khana Constituency II, APC candidate Henrietta Loolo polled 7,647 votes to emerge victorious. The by-election was held following the death of former lawmaker Dinebari Loolo. The constituency comprises 155 polling units across eight wards.

Similarly, APC’s Napoleon Ukalikpe won the Ahoada East II Constituency by-election with 3,980 votes. The seat became vacant after Edison Ehie resigned to take up an appointment as Chief of Staff to the state governor.

In Kano State, the APC secured victories in the Ungogo and Kano Municipal State Assembly by-elections amid low voter turnout.

In Kano Municipal Constituency, APC candidate Aliyu Daneji polled 7,484 votes to win the seat. The Returning Officer, Ibrahim Siraj, declared him duly elected after meeting the legal requirements and scoring the highest number of valid votes cast.

In Ungogo Constituency, APC’s Aminu Sa’ad secured 8,975 votes to clinch the seat, with the Returning Officer, Ali Abdullahi, announcing the result.

Major opposition parties, including the NNPP, PDP, and ADC, were not on the ballot and did not participate in the Kano by-elections.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulated the winners in the FCT, Rivers, and Kano states, urging them to serve with humility, patriotism, and dedication.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended INEC, security agencies, and voters for the peaceful conduct of the elections, stating that the exercise further strengthens Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have emerged victorious in the House of Assembly by-elections conducted in Ahoada East Constituency 2 and Khana Constituency 2 of Rivers State.

The Returning Officer, Rosemary Ogbo, declared that the APC candidates — Napoleon Ukalikpe and Burabari Loloo — secured the highest number of valid votes cast and satisfied the requirements of the law.

In Ahoada East Constituency 2, Ukalikpe polled 3,980 votes to defeat Ego Marvelous of the Action Alliance, who scored 33 votes, and Godstime Egor of the Action Party of Nigeria, who garnered 38 votes. Other candidates recorded single-digit tallies. Ogbo subsequently declared Ukalikpe duly elected.

In Khana Constituency 2, Loloo secured 7,647 votes to defeat candidates of various opposition parties and clinch the seat.

Reacting to his victory, Loloo pledged inclusive representation, promising to carry constituents along in governance. Ukalikpe also expressed satisfaction with the turnout and conduct of the exercise, describing the process as smooth and peaceful while commending security personnel for maintaining order.

Observers, however, reported low voter turnout in parts of Ahoada East, including some polling units in Ogbelle Town, where few voters were seen despite movement restrictions.

At the collation centre in Taabaa, Khana Local Government Area, security personnel maintained order as election officials sorted and verified results in line with guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Yomere, described the by-elections as peaceful and orderly, noting that the process was conducted without incidents of violence. He attributed voter apathy in some areas to factors beyond the commission’s control, adding that adequate publicity and voter sensitisation were carried out ahead of the polls.

The by-elections were largely calm across the affected communities, with normal activities continuing in some areas as voting progressed.

Governor Abba Yusuf has defended his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the move is aimed at repositioning Kano State at the centre of national decision-making and accelerating development for its residents.

Speaking on Monday at the 2026 APC ‘grand rally’ held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Yusuf addressed thousands of party faithful and supporters, framing his defection as a strategic choice driven by responsibility rather than personal ambition.

“Kano can no longer afford to be sidelined from the centre,” the governor said. “It is about placing Kano in a position where it can fully participate in national development and secure a better future for its citizens.”

Aligning with the Centre

Yusuf argued that aligning with the ruling party at the federal level would enable Kano to actively engage with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and unlock accelerated development through stronger ties with Abuja.

“With the support of our great party and the cooperation of the Federal Government, Kano State is better positioned to move forward with confidence and stability,” he told the crowd.

The governor’s defection follows his resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in January, citing internal crises and leadership disputes within the party. His exit from the NNPP marked a significant political shift in Kano, a state that has long been central to Nigeria’s electoral arithmetic.

High-Profile Reception

Yusuf expressed gratitude to Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who formally received him into the APC fold at the rally, describing the gesture as symbolic of unity and national cohesion.

The event drew an array of prominent political figures, including governors from Jigawa, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, and Plateau states. Also in attendance were Abdullahi Ganduje, former APC national chairman and ex-governor of Kano, as well as Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

National chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, described the large turnout as a strong signal of unity and commitment to the party’s agenda and Tinubu’s broader political vision.

Political Implications

Analysts say Yusuf’s defection could significantly reshape Kano’s political landscape ahead of future electoral cycles, potentially consolidating APC’s influence in the North-West. The move also underscores the continuing realignments within Nigeria’s party system, where strategic alliances with the federal ruling party often carry substantial developmental and political implications.

For Yusuf, however, the message was clear: the decision, he said, is about ensuring Kano’s voice is heard at the highest levels of governance — and about securing tangible benefits for the people he was elected to serve.