The All Progressives Congress (APC) secured sweeping victories in all three bye-elections conducted on Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across Kaduna State.
In the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency contest, APC candidate Felix Bagudu amassed 34,580 votes to defeat his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 11,491 votes.
A detailed breakdown revealed a historic win for APC in Kajuru, where it collected 10,487 votes compared to PDP’s 6,789. In Chikun, APC extended its lead with 24,093 votes, leaving PDP trailing with 4,702. This marks the first time since the return of democracy in 1999 that APC has claimed victory in the two local governments, which have long been considered PDP strongholds.
The APC also triumphed in the state assembly bye-elections in Zaria Kewaye and Basawa constituencies.
At the announcement of results in Zaria Kewaye on Sunday, the returning officer, Professor Balarabe Abdullahi, declared Isa Haruna Ihamo of the APC winner with 26,613 votes. His closest challenger, Nuhu Sada Abdullahi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), secured 5,721 votes, while PDP’s Mamuda Abdullahi Wappa finished third with 5,331 votes.
In the Basawa constituency, the returning officer, Professor Nasiru Rabiu, declared APC victorious with 10,926 votes, defeating the PDP candidate who scored 5,499.
The back-to-back wins further cemented APC’s dominance in Kaduna State, particularly in the Zaria axis, where the elections were widely viewed as a measure of political strength between the ruling party and the opposition.
What you should know
The APC’s sweep in Kaduna’s bye-elections reflects a significant political shift, especially in areas historically controlled by the PDP.
With victories in Chikun and Kajuru for the first time since 1999, alongside decisive wins in Zaria Kewaye and Basawa, the ruling party has solidified its influence in the state ahead of future contests.
