The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared winners in Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and by-elections in Rivers and Kano states, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) recording significant victories.
INEC conducted chairmanship and councillorship elections across the six Area Councils of the FCT, while by-elections were held in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies in Rivers State, as well as Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.
FCT Results
In Kuje Area Council, APC candidate Danjuma Shekwolo secured 17,269 votes to win the chairmanship seat. The Returning Officer, Nkiruka Odoh of the University of Abuja, declared him duly elected, having scored the highest number of votes and satisfied the requirements of the law.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zakwoyi Danlami, polled 15,824 votes, while Abdullahi Galadima of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 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 polled 3,398 votes.
Similarly, in Kwali Area Council, APC’s Daniel Nuhu won with 17,032 votes, defeating PDP’s Haruna Pai, who scored 8,575 votes.
However, in Gwagwalada Area Council, the PDP clinched victory as its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, polled 22,165 votes to defeat APC’s Yahaya Shehu, who secured 17,788 votes. INEC described the Gwagwalada election as peaceful and smoothly conducted.
APC Dominates Rivers By-Elections
In Rivers State, the APC won both by-elections into the State House of Assembly.
In Khana Constituency II, APC candidate Henrietta Loolo emerged victorious with 7,647 votes. The seat became vacant following the death of former lawmaker Dinebari Loolo. Khana Constituency II comprises 155 polling units across eight wards.
Also in Rivers, APC’s Napoleon Ukalikpe won the Ahoada East II Constituency by-election with 3,980 votes. The seat had been vacated after Edison Ehie resigned to assume office as Chief of Staff to the state governor.
The by-elections filled two vacant seats in the Rivers State 10th Assembly.
Kano Legislative By-Elections
In Kano State, the APC secured both contested seats amid reports of low voter turnout.
In Kano Municipal Constituency, APC candidate Aliyu Daneji polled 7,484 votes to win the seat in the Kano State House of Assembly. Returning Officer Ibrahim Siraj declared him elected, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast.
In Ungogo Constituency, APC’s Aminu Sa’ad clinched victory with 8,975 votes. The Returning Officer, Ali Abdullahi, announced the result.
Major opposition parties, including the NNPP, PDP and ADC, were not on the ballot in the Kano by-elections.
Pre-Election Tensions In FCT
Ahead of the FCT polls, there was controversy over a 22-hour restriction on human and vehicular movement.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike defended the directive, saying it had the approval of President Bola Tinubu and was not imposed unilaterally. However, FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe criticised the restriction as excessive and undemocratic.
Following the elections, President Tinubu congratulated the winners in the FCT, Rivers and Kano states. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended INEC, security agencies and voters for the peaceful conduct of the polls, noting that the exercise further strengthens Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
