POLITICS
APC Takes Lead in Governorship Polls, Wins Eight States
From Alfred Babs (Ilorin), Kunle Idowu (Abeokuta), Dan Amasingha, Minna
Some of the governorship election results from last Saturday’s polls were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) winning six of the states, while the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) claiming two of the sight states announced yesterday.
In Kwara State, the incumbent Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was declared the winner of the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Governor Abdulrazaq, who is of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won in all the 16 local government areas of the state in the election results declared by the INEC Returning officer for the polls, Professor Isaac Itodo, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue state.
The INEC had on Saturday night started announcement of the 2023 governorship election results with only that of three local government areas with the governor clearing the three local government areas of Ekiti, Isin and Offa local government areas.
At the resumed announcement of the election results on Sunday morning, which lasted till evening the APC governor also won in additional 13 local government areas.
Our correspondent, Kunle Idowu reported that Governor Dapo Abiodun of APC was also declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ogun State, defeating Mr Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain his seat.
The state Returning Officer for the Governorship poll, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, made the declaration yesterday in Abeokuta at about 6.17 p.m, saying that Abiodun scored 276, 298 votes to win the election.
“That Abiodun Adedapo Oluseun of APC, having satisfied with the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected,” Adebowale, who is also Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, declared.
He explained that Abiodun defeated his closest rival, Adebutu, who scored 262, 382 votes.
Adebowale said that candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Biyi Otegbeye, came third with 94, 754 votes.
A breakdown of the results on local government basis, as announced by the local government Collation Officers, showed that Abiodun won in 12 council areas, while Adebutu won in eight out of the 20 local governments in the state.
Abiodun won in Ijebu-Ode; Odeda; Egbado North; Egbado South; Ewekoro; Ijebu North; Abeokuta North and Ipokia.
Others were: Imeko Afon, Ado Odo-Ota, Obafemi Owode and Ifo, while Adebutu won in Sagamu; Abeokuta South; Odogbolu; Ikenne; Ijebu North East; Ijebu East; Ogun Waterside and Remo North.
According to Adebowale, the registered voters were 2 ,688,305, while accredited voters were 666, 406.
He said the numbers of valid votes were 645, 133, while 18,835 votes were rejected, adding that the votes cast were 663, 968.
In Oyo State, one of the G5 governors, Seyi Makinde, who took up arms against the PDP leadership, won the gubernatorial election for a second term.
The election was conducted in all the 33 local government areas of the state on Saturday.
Makinde, one of the G5 Governors, who contested on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared the winner of the election.
The returning officer in the state, Professor Adebayo Bamire, who announced the result of the election, declared that Makinde, who is seeking another term in office defeated all other candidates to win the election.
Bamire, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, said that Makinde scored a total of 563,756 votes to defeat all other candidates.
Bamire while speaking announced that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin scored 256,685 votes.
The Accord candidate, Adebayo Adelabu scored a total of 38,357 votes.
In Akwa Ibom State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the governorship election.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Adigio, Vice Chancellor, Nigerian Maritime University, Delta, announced the results yesterday in Uyo.
Adigio said Eno won in 29 out of 31 Local Government Areas of the state to defeat Sen. Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
He said that the PDP candidate scored 354,348 votes, beating closet rival, of Young Progressive Party (YPP), who got 136,262 votes.
He also said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 129,602 votes while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) got 12,509 votes while Labour Party (LP) scored 4,746 votes.
Also yesterday, the APC candidate in Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda was declared winner of the Saturday governorship poll.
Dikko, a former director of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, polled 859,892 votes to beat Garba Yakubu Lado of PDP, who scored 486,620 votes.
Prof. Ma’azu Abubakar Gusau, Returning Officer for Katsina governorship poll, however, is yet to officially announce the result.
Incumbent Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya was yesterday declared the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Maimuna Waziri, the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, Yobe declared the result in Gombe yesterday.
Waziri said that Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 342, 821 votes to defeat his closest rival Mr Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 233, 131 votes.
She said that Khamisu Mailantarki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) polled 19,861 votes while Keftin Amuga of Labour Party polled 1,753.
Waziri said that the number of registered voters was 1,575,794, while 618,231 voters were accredited adding that the number of valid votes was 605,355, while 11,390 votes were rejected and 616,745 total votes cast.
Yahaya won in nine out of the 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, while the difference between APC and PDP scores was 109,690 votes.
In Jigawa State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Malam Umar Namadi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the Jigawa governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the poll, Prof. Umar Zaiyan of Federal University Birnin Kebbi, announced the result yesterday in Dutse.
Zaiyan said that Namadi scored 618,449 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Mustapha Sule Lamido who polled 368,726 votes.
He said: “I Prof. Umar Zaiyan hereby certify that Umar Namadi of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the Law is declared the winner of Jigawa governorship election.”
According to him, 1.07 million voters were accredited in the March 18 election with 1.05 million votes cast, out of which 1.03 million votes were the total valid votes cast at the exercise.
The 60-year-old politician and chartered accountant also defeated Malam Aminu Ringim of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) who clinched 37,156 votes.
The PDP had earlier called on the returning officer to declare a section of the election as inconclusive.
When the party agents were called in by Zaiyan to sign the result sheets containing the scores of each candidate in the governorship contest, the PDP’s agent, Malam Abubakar, declined to endorse it.
He said that the returning officer ought to had address his complaints before proceeding to perfect the formalities of signing the result sheets, as such he left the collation centre without signing the result.
Namadi, the incumbent deputy governor of Jigawa, who represents was born on April 7, 1963, obtained degree in Accountancy and Masters degree in Business Administration from Bayero University, Kano.
The governor-elect had served in various capacities both in public and private sectors.
General News
Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali Calls for Calm Over Outcome of North East APC Stakeholders Meeting
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, has called for calm over the outcome of APC North East Stakeholders meeting, cautioning against any divisive rank within the party.
The North East APC stakeholders meeting held in Gombe on Sunday, June 15, 2025 had ended abruptly over the controversy surrounding the absence of a formal endorsement of Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Prof Alkali said that this is not the time for premature posturing or muscle-flexing.
According to him, “any divisive signals, particularly from within the ranks of our own party, risk undermining not just our legacy but the confidence of Nigerians who entrusted us with leadership.”
He emphasised that it is not unusual in a democracy to have differences of opinion but over the years the APC has weathered such challenges with dignity and brotherhood.
Part of the statement reads: “As a long-standing and committed member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), | feel compelled to appeal to all party stakeholders, leaders, and supporters — especially across the North East — to exercise caution, demonstrate political maturity, and remain focused on the unity and stability of our great party.
“It is not unusual, in a thriving democracy such as ours, for differences of opinion to emerge, especially as political momentum gradually builds toward the 2027 general elections.
“However, we must remember that the APC has, over the years, weathered similar moments with dignity and brotherhood — always putting party cohesion and national interest above ail other interests.
“Let it be clear: now is not the time for premature posturing or muscle-flexing. We are barely midway through the current administration, which is still focused on implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda. Our priority must remain consolidating the achievements recorded so far under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, particularly in securing our nation, reviving our economy, and restoring public confidence in governance.
“Any divisive signals, particularly from within the ranks of our own party, risk undermining not just our legacy but the confidence of Nigerians who entrusted us with leadership.
“The North East has played and continues to play a pivotal role in the APC’s success story. We must, therefore, rise above internal frictions and recommit ourselves to constructive dialogue, inclusive engagement, and party discipline.
“I call on all APC leaders — at the national, zonal, and state levels — to remain calm and focused. Let us guide our actions by wisdom, not emotion; by long-term vision, not short-term advantage.
“We owe this not only to our party but to the Nigerian people who look to us for stability, progress, and leadership.
“Let us close ranks, protect the integrity of the APC, and work together to ensure that the party continues to serve as a platform for national renewal and inclusive development.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Consolidation Group, has called on the party’s national leadership not to give tickets for the forthcoming area council and 2027 elections to disloyal members.
The group also advised the party to check infiltrations of its ranks by the opposition to guide against APC becoming habitat for political opportunists rejected by their former parties.
Malam Idris Jibril, spokesperson of the group made the call while speaking with newsmen shortly after submitting a petition to the party’s national leadership in Abuja.
He explained that the petition was borne out of the concern over the infiltrations of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), chapter of APC by members of the opposition political parties.
He said that the defectors were individuals who neither knew the values and norms of the party nor met its constitutional requirements for nominations.
Jibril noted that in spite of not meeting the requirements for nominations, such individuals were being positioned as candidates in this year’s area council elections in the FCT in attempts to hijack the party’s internal processes.
“The APC must be seen to stand on the pillars of integrity, discipline and fairness, especially at a time when President Bola Tinubu is championing renewed hope and national rebirth.
“This is a moment to defend our structures and safeguard our future,” he said.
Jibril said that careful perusal of the credentials of these individuals by APC’s leadership, would enable the party avert looming future crisis and preserve the legacy of progressives in the FCT.
He added that it was also critical to prevent mass protest and withdrawal by aggrieved, loyal APC aspirants and supporters.
“The action of the APC leadership is also critical to avoid reputational damage to the APC ahead of the 2026 area council elections and the 2027 general elections.
“The party cannot afford to reward betrayal and alienate its true base in the name of desperate electoral calculations,” he stressed.
Jibril said that the orchestrated plan by a political stalwart and his network of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyalists pose a serious threat to the stability and peace of the APC in the FCT.
“We asked for the immediate disqualification of Mr Danjuma Shekwolo and Mr Christopher Maikalangu from contesting on the APC’s platform in the forthcoming FCT area council elections in line with Article 20, 1(iii) of our constitution.
“We equally call on the leadership of APC to disassociate itself from persons who were known PDP members because they will not be loyal to the party,’’ he said.
Jibril asked for formal investigation by the APC national working committee into the growing complaints of imposition and infiltration of the party by the opposition within the FCT chapter of the party.(NAN)
From Yagana Ali, Yola
The Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027. The endorsement was made at a high-powered stakeholders’ meeting held in Yola, where party leaders and members expressed their unwavering support for the President’s re-election bid.
The National Vice Chairman (North East) of the APC, Mustapha Salihu, led the party leaders and stakeholders in affirming the party’s support for President Tinubu. Salihu described the President’s administration as one committed to economic transformation, institutional reforms, and national stability. He urged party members to close ranks and consolidate the gains of the last two years under the Tinubu-led government.The APC also passed a vote of confidence on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, lauding his efforts in stabilising the country and restoring Nigeria’s global image through strategic security interventions. The party described Ribadu as a worthy Adamawa ambassador who has not let the state and the country down.As part of the celebrations, Comrade Salihu donated a modern two-storey duplex, valued at over N300 million, to serve as the APC Adamawa State Secretariat. The gesture is part of Salihu’s efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.The event witnessed the defection of several high-profile political figures into the APC, including the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, Crowther Seth, and prominent businessman and philanthropist, Abdulrahman Haske. Other notable figures who spoke at the event commended President Tinubu for his strides in national security, infrastructure development, economic recovery, and educational reforms.The endorsement of President Tinubu and the vote of confidence on NSA Ribadu demonstrate the APC’s commitment to consolidating the gains of the current administration and promoting national stability and development.
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