By-elections: Tinubu, Yilwatda hail APC’s four-seat haul

President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, have congratulated the party’s candidates who won four of the five legislative seats contested in Saturday’s by-elections across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission declared APC candidates winners in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency of Kano, Udu State Constituency of Delta and Disina State Constituency of Bauchi. At the same time, the Allied People’s Movement won the Sakwa State Constituency in Bauchi.

The polls covered one federal constituency and four state constituencies.

In Gombe State, APC candidate, Kallamu Usman MaiJama’a, won the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election with 41,121 votes. The Labour Party scored 3,553 votes, while the APM polled 872.

In Kano State, APC candidate Hussaini Yusuf-Datti was declared winner of the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency by-election with 22,890 votes. The Peoples Redemption Party scored 270 votes and the Peoples Democratic Party 108.

In Delta State, APC candidate Okolosi Ator won the Udu State Constituency by-election with 8,724 votes, against 214 votes for the PDP.

In Bauchi State, APC candidate Yakubu Ali won the Disina State Constituency by-election with 5,846 votes. The APM scored 5,225 votes and the PRP 3,701.

The APM recorded its sole victory in Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki Local Government, Bauchi State, where Adamu Yakubu was declared winner with 8,515 votes. The APC scored 3,771 votes, the PDP 2,076 and the PRP 727.

Announcing the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa State Constituency by-election in Kano State, INEC announced that Yusuf-Datti defeated his closest challenger, Habib Hamisu of the PRP, who secured 270 votes.

The returning officer for the election, Ibrahim Tajo-Suraj, declared the APC candidate the winner, adding that Yusuf-Datti had met the requirements of the law and secured the highest number of votes cast.

“Therefore, Mr Hussain Yusuf-Datti of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” the returning officer said.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seat in the Kano State House of Assembly following the movement of the former occupant, Shuaibu Nagoggo, popularly known as Abba Gano, to the House of Representatives.

Announcing the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency result, the Returning Officer for the election, Prof Gurama Abubakar, declared Kallamu of the APC the winner after securing the highest number of votes.

He said, “The total number of votes cast is 47,301, while the number of valid votes is 46,551. The number of rejected votes is 750.”

According to the result, APC scored 41,121 votes, while the Labour Party polled 3,553 votes; Allied People’s Movement scored 872 votes, while the National Democratic Party secured 707 votes.

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Reacting, Tinubu congratulated the winners, adding that the victories recorded by APC candidates demonstrated the confidence Nigerians reposed in the party’s capacity to govern effectively and deliver shared prosperity.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said, “I am encouraged by the support Nigerians at the grassroots continue to show for our party and for the difficult but necessary reforms our administration has implemented over the past three years.

“I urge Nigerians to remain steadfast and not be swayed by political opportunism. The benefits of these reforms will become increasingly evident as we enter the next phase of our programme.”

The President urged the winners to justify the confidence their constituents had placed in them through diligent and effective representation.

He also encouraged the other candidates to accept the outcome in good faith and continue contributing to the democratic process.

Tinubu commended voters and security agencies for maintaining peace and order during the elections.

He also applauded INEC for successfully conducting the polls following the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

The President urged INEC to build on the progress recorded in the by-elections and address any shortcomings ahead of future polls, particularly the 2027 general elections.

Also reacting, the APC national chairman, Yilwatda, congratulated the four party candidates who emerged victorious in the five legislative by-elections.

In a statement on Sunday, Yilwatda described the victories as a reflection of the confidence placed in the APC and its candidates by the electorate.

He commended the candidates, party leaders, campaign teams, voters, INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders for their roles in the electoral process.

He urged the victorious candidates to see their victories as a call to service and remain committed to delivering purposeful representation to their constituents.