Opposition candidates in last Saturday’s Rivers East Senatorial District bye-election have rejected the victory of Senator Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging irregularities and calling for the cancellation of the exercise.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the allegations and challenged the aggrieved candidates to seek legal redress if they possess evidence contradicting the official results.
According to INEC, Nwogu secured 47,961 votes to emerge winner of the election. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came second with 1,647 votes, while Douglas Fabeke of the Action Alliance (AA) polled 1,175 votes to place third. Labour Party candidate Kunani Sam garnered 367 votes.
Reacting to the outcome, Fabeke alleged that electoral officials and security personnel compromised the process and vowed to challenge the result in court. He expressed concern that the shortcomings observed during the bye-election cast doubt on INEC’s readiness to conduct the 2027 general elections successfully.
“We will not keep quiet. We will continue to raise our voices. We are going to file a case against INEC, the PDP and its candidate,” Fabeke said.
Dr. May Agbamuche – Mbu, INEC National Commission
Similarly, Labour Party candidate Kunani Sam called for the outright cancellation of the election results, citing what he described as serious irregularities during the exercise.
Responding to the allegations, Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Geraldine Ekelemu, maintained that the commission conducted a credible and transparent election. She said any dissatisfied candidate was free to challenge the outcome through the courts.
“If they can prove what they are alleging, it will be good for them to take it up legally. We have done what was expected of us to ensure that the process was smooth and successfully concluded,” Ekelemu said.
The election also drew criticism over low voter turnout. Public affairs analyst Udeme Obot noted that only about six per cent of registered voters participated in the poll. According to him, the turnout raises questions about the depth of popular engagement in the political process.
“When a political coalition that boasts of massive support can mobilise only 6.02 per cent of registered voters across the senatorial district, it reveals a glaring vulnerability,” Obot said.
The Rivers East Senatorial seat became vacant following the death of Senator Barry Mpigi earlier this year.
APC Sweeps Other Bye-Elections
While the PDP secured victory in Rivers East, the APC emerged victorious in five other bye-elections conducted across Nasarawa, Enugu, Kano, Kebbi and Ondo states.
In Ondo State, APC candidate Dayo Faduyile won the Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election with 68,474 votes. The poll was held to replace former Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. His closest rival, Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), polled 1,411 votes.
In Nasarawa North Senatorial District, APC candidate Danladi Envulu-Anza secured victory with 45,362 votes. Labour Party candidate and former Information Minister Labaran Maku scored 12,931 votes, while PDP candidate Emmanuel David Ombugadu polled 11,570 votes. The election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki.
In Enugu North Senatorial District, APC candidate Ikeje Asogwa won with 162,360 votes, defeating PDP candidate Nestor Ezeme, who scored 9,299 votes. The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Okey Ezea in November 2025.
In Kano State, APC candidate Rabiu Shuaibu won the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency bye-election with 35,356 votes. His closest challengers, Lawan Garba Haruna of the APM and Labour Party’s Abubakar Yahaya Mohammed, polled 268 and 98 votes respectively.
Similarly, APC candidate Rabiu Garba Aiki emerged victorious in the Zuru State Constituency bye-election in Kebbi State, securing 4,871 votes against Labour Party candidate Aliyu Muhammad’s 168 votes. The election was held to replace the late former Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Zuru.
Ekiti Governor Re-Elected
Meanwhile, the incumbent governor of Ekiti State, elected on the platform of the APC, was declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election.
The governor secured 319,224 votes to defeat his closest challengers, Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), winning across the state’s 16 local government areas.
