Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo yesterday said the results of the by-elections were confirmation he won last year’s governorship election.
He said the results represented a reflection of the love of Edo people for the APC, adding that it showed the people freely voted for the APC and no mandate was stolen.
The Governor spoke when he received the House of Representatives member-elect for Ovia Federal Constituency, Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion, who was led by her predecessor and Edo Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa on a thank you visit.
“This by-election results show that Edo people have spoken. They cried that we stole their mandate. I waited for this election to really know if we actually stole their mandate.
“See the results that came from Edo Central by-election. They show that their mandate was never stolen at all as APC won 51 wards out of 51 wards. This shows that the people gave their mandate to APC. No mandate was stolen.
“The candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past election, chairman of past election alongside the candidates in this present election all lost their wards and units. This shows that the people never voted for them at all.
“This by-election is a reflection that Edo is APC and APC won the election as the election results show that PDP lost.
“Edo is APC, and we love President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and our promises of securing 2.5 million votes is a task that must be accomplished. We would not sleep but continue to work hard to achieve our goals,’ he said.
Igbinedion assured the Governor that she would represent the people well and embark on projects that would benefit them.
ADC, PDP trailing badly in Kaduna, Edo, Ogun, Anambra, others
Police, DSS arrest PDP agent with N30m cash in Kaduna
INEC officials, others nabbed in Ogun
ADC agents caught with ballot paper booklets in Anambra
APC wins in Kogi, PDP in Oyo
It was all pumping of hands and back slapping yesterday in the camps of Governors Monday Okpebholo (Edo State), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) as early results of the by-elections in parts of the country went hugely in favour of the candidates they had spent much time campaigning for in the last few months.
On the contrary, the candidates of ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufai and those of Labour Party Presidential candidate in 2023, Mr.Peter Obi, had an outing to forget.
The elections were generally peaceful although there were reports of violence in Nnewi, Anambra State and Shanono, Bagwai and Ghari in Kano State.
The Kano State Police Command confirmed that it arrested 288 suspected thugs during the exercise.
Found in possession of the suspects were bows and arrows, daggers, cutlasses and charms.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called for the cancellation of the Kano election in view of the violence blamed on supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Several party functionaries and a few officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were arrested in Kaduna and Ogun states for being in possession of huge sums of money allegedly earmarked for compromising the electoral process.
Early returns from the polling booths showed that landslide victories awaited the APC senatorial candidate in Edo Central Joseph Ikpea and the party’s flag bearer in Ovia North East/Ovia South West Federal Constituency of the state, Omosede Igbinedion.
Omosede is the daughter of the Esama of Benin Kigdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
The 90-year-old Chief Igbinedion defied a downpour to vote at Polling Unit 7 in Okada.
Omosede polled 450 votes while the PDP and ADC got one vote each at the end of voting there.
She had contested for the same seat in 2023 on the platform of PDP but lost to APC’s Dennis Idahosa who vacated the seat following his election as Deputy Governor last September.
Her PDP opponent yesterday, Mr. Johnny Aikpitanyi, stormed Benin City to complain about alleged intimidation of voters.
He claimed that over 150 thugs and vigilance group members were deployed to intimidate voters at Oghede polling unit in Ovia North East.
Governor Okpebholo voted at Ward 2, Unit 1, Udomi Primary School in Esan Central Local Government Area but expressed frustration at the slow pace of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used at the polling booth.
“Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration. The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited.
“I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the feelers I’m getting are good,” he told reporters.
He was until his election as governor the senator from the district.
Abiodun confirms supremacy over Adebutu in Remo
Governor Abiodun notched up one more victory over his close rival, PDP’s Ladi Adebutu, with the massive votes for the APC House of Representatives candidate for Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North, Adesola Elegbeji.
The APC had run away with a narrow victory against the PDP in the 2023 election in the constituency.
When a vacancy occurred last year following the death of Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, the PDP thought it was time to revenge only for the voters to decide otherwise.
Mr Bolarinwa Oluwole, PDP candidate in the by-election accused the APC of deploying thugs to chase voters away from polling units in the constituency.
He said the thugs targeted strongholds of the PDP to cause violence. He claimed there was no by-election in Ogun.
It was double embarrassment for the PDP in the state as the party was linked with an attempt to bribe its way to victory in the election.
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of two individuals identified as INEC officials and others for alleged electoral offences in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, during the by-election.
The police spokesperson in the state, CSP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the arrest through a statement, said the suspects were arrested at about 0045hrs by a police patrol team attached to the Iperu Remo Division.
CSP Odutola said that a Mitsubishi Spacewagon vehicle marked Lagos AKD 887 HT with three occupants – Mr. Toryem Joe-Stans and Ms. Mandara Aminat, both officials of the INEC, were intercepted in Iperu alongside the driver.
She explained that while the police patrol team was searching the vehicle, it discovered and recovered cash sum of two million five hundred thousand naira (₦2,500,000.00) from Joe-Stans Toryem.
The police spokesperson added that during interrogation, he confessed that the money was collected at Kehoy Hotel, Iperu, Ogun State from a man he referred to as “Political Solution.”
According to Odutola, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, had directed the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran.
Soludo, former Anambra Speaker decry violence in Nnewi
Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo and the immediate past Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Rita Maduagwu, deplored the violence that almost marred the Anambra South Senatorial District by-election.
Leading contestants for the seat left vacant by the death of APC’s Ifeanyi Ubah were Emmanuel Nwachukwu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Azuka Okwusa of APC, Donald Amamgbo of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) and Christian Ubah of PDP.
But it was the APGA candidate that seemed to have got the majority of the votes.
Of note is the poor showing of ADC’s Amamgbo for whom Mr. Peter Obi had campaigned vigorously.
Obi, a former governor of the Anambra State, got 584,621 votes in the state alone during the 2023 presidential election.
Soludo told reporters shortly after casting his vote at his polling unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Isuofia ward in Aguata Local Government Area that the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu was assaulted by an opposition party during the by-election in the state.
“Just in the last few minutes, I got a terrible report from Nnewi South. The news is not palatable but predictable, because when you see you are losing, you begin to unleash violence to disrupt the electoral process,” he said.
“My Commissioner was in pains and crying that the APC governorship candidate in Anambra took truckload of police and thugs and was going from one polling unit to another beating up people, including the commissioner.
“That is shocking but not unexpected. That is what you do when you are desperate. I understand they are losing even in his ward.
“Let the people vote and let their votes count. That is what we are asking. But we are confident that at the end of the day, the people’s will must prevail,” he added.
A similar complaint of intimidation came from the APC.
It said its members and agents were being arrested by agents of the state government
Four polling agents of the APC were allegedly taken away by a local government chairman, provoking a protest by youths in the area.
Hon Rita Maduagwu, told The Nation that APGA supporters invaded her Ukpor Ward 3,009 to unleash mayhem on the voters
“Ukpor in Nnewi South had never witnessed such violence during election,” she said.
APC agents in Ward 4, Units 001 and 003 and Ward 4 Unit 8 in Ekwusigo were also allegedly arrested.
A video recording emerged on social media yesterday purporting to show two booklets of ballot papers already thumb-printed in favour of ADC.
The booklets were allegedly intended to be smuggled into ballot boxes at Aguata High School, Ekwolobi.
Uba Sani makes it happen for APC in Chikun, Zaria
The APC candidate in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Joseph Bagudu, and that of Zaria/Kewaye State Constituency, Mohammed Haruna, also appeared to be cruising to victory at the close of voting.
Reports from the various polling centres showed that their votes overshadowed those of Adanu Alexander of ADC and Dawaki Esther of PDP for Chikun/Kajuru as well as Isiyaku Kabir of ADC and Mamuda Abdullahi of PDP for Zaria/Kewaye.
Mallam El Rufai had rolled out his political machinery ahead of the by-election, crisscrossing the various wards to canvass support for the ADC candidates.
But all that seemed to have counted for nothing as shown by the results from the fields.
The Chikun/Kajuru seat was left vacant by the death of LP’s Abubakar Adamu.
The Police Command in Kaduna State said its operatives in collaboration with those of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies arrested a suspected vote buyer ahead of the by-elections and recovered N30 million cash.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, said the suspect was arrested at a popular Hotel located on Turunku Road in the Kaduna metropolis.
According to Hassan, the seized cash was earmarked for the purpose of inducing voters to compromise the electoral process.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had planned to use the said amount to bribe eligible voters.
Hassan added: “On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.”
The Kaduna State chapter of the PDP confirmed ownership of the money but denied it was meant to compromise INEC officials or induce voters.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the State Chairman of the party, Sir Edward Percy Masha, described the allegation of vote buying as “false, malicious and politically motivated.,” maintaining that the seized funds were intended to facilitate the work of PDP agents and officials during the by-elections across the state.
According to him, every political party mobilises agents, supervisors and collation officers during elections and such structures require funding.
He noted that with over 5,000 PDP agents deployed across the constituencies, the seized N30 million amounted to little more than stipends for their welfare.
Masha said: “Let me make it clear: that money was for election logistics. We have 169 wards, and if you multiply the number of agents, supervisors and collation officers by their allowances, you will arrive at well over N30 million.
“That is the reality. To now turn around and say it was for vote buying is mischievous and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians.”
Masha lamented that the party has been the target of harassment by security agencies working, in his words, “at the behest of the Kaduna State Government.”
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponising state institutions to intimidate the opposition.
He recalled that only a day earlier, security operatives raided the campaign council office of the PDP candidate for Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Princess Esther Ashivelli Dawaki, and whisked away several party officials, including the state publicity secretary, zonal chairman, youth leader, women leaders, and more than 18 others.
Makinde proves too strong for APC in Ibadan North
There seems to be nothing to stop the PDP candidate in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, Folajinmi Oyekunle, after securing massive votes across the constituency.
APC candidate, Olatunji Adewale was no match, winning only six votes at his Ward 10, Unit 27 polling unit as against the nine for Oyekunle.
288 armed thugs arrested in Shanono/Bagwai; APC,PDPcall for cancellation of election
The police in Kano State arrested 288 suspected thugs said to have engaged in disruptive activities during the by-election in Ghari/Tsanyawa and Bagwai/Shanono state constituencies.
Police spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said various weapons were recovered from the suspects, including a pump action rifle and four locally made guns.
Other dangerous weapons recovered included bows and arrows, catapults and pebbles, cutlasses, knives and clubs.
“The suspects are currently in police custody. Investigations are ongoing to identify their sponsors and collaborators.”
The APC and PDP called for immediate cancelation of the by-election for Shanono/Bagwai constituency, and the Ghari constituency rerun election, citing alleged widespread extreme violence and election disruption by armed thugs across several polling units.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said in a statement that “verifiable reports from Shanono and Bagwai Local Government Areas and Ghari constituency have voters fleeing polling areas, with deployed security personnel overwhelmed by the violence, making the prospects of a credible election impossible.
“Proceeding with the Shanono/Bagwai Kano State Constituency by-election and Ghari rerun election in the atmosphere of utter brigandage and outright violent voter intimidation will be against democratic dictates of free, fair and peaceful election, and set a dangerous precedent for undesirable and unacceptable electoral heist,” Morka said.
Kano State Chairman of the PDP, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, said his party was alarmed by reports of intimidation, thuggery and other actions that undermine the democratic process.
He said: “The use of violence or threat of violence to influence voters and candidates and the outcome of the election are unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“Such conducts not only endangers lives but destroys public trust in our democratic institutions.
“Let it be known that a free and fair election is the foundation of representative democracy.
“We urge all authorities to act decisively to safeguard that principle and to ensure the will of the people is reflected without fear or favor.”
APC’s Yakubu wins in Kogi
The APC candidate in the Egume/ Dekina State Constituency election in Kog State, Musa Hassan Yakubu, was returned with a total of 55, 073 votes.
Godwin Meliga of PDP came a distant second with 1038 votes, according to the results declared by the returning officer, Prof. Emmanuel Onoja Eneche.
In the third place was Egene Joseph Ugbede of APM who got 445 votes while Amos Ahaiba of ADC scored 141 votes. Rilwan Mudi of SDP had five votes and Yakubu Ugbede of A party polled 16 votes.
Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has described as frustrating, the slow functioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the ongoing by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District.
Okpebholo spoke after he voted at Ward 2, Unit 1, Udomi Primary School in Esan Central Local Government Area.
Okpebholo said the BVAS machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) caused unnecessary delays.
According to him: “Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration. The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited. I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the feelers I’m getting are good.”
Coordinator, Office of the First Lady in Edo State, Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, voted at the same polling unit.
She urged voters to participate fully and defend their votes.
She said, “This is my village, Udomi. So far, so good, the process has been smooth as people are coming out to vote. This is a by-election to fill the space vacated by Governor Monday Okpebholo. Everything is going well. The agents are here, INEC is doing well. I urge the voters to vote well and stay to defend their votes as we are practicing democracy.”
Anambra: APGA battles APC for late Ifeanyi Uba’s successor
Oyo: Can APC floor Makinde’s PDP in Ibadan North?
Kaduna: PDP, ADC take on Uba Sani in Kajuru/Chikun
In reality, only 1.09 per cent of the 1,467 national and state legislatives seats will be at stake in today’s by-elections in parts of the country.
But the political parties and their key actors are looking beyond the figures.
From the newly installed National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prof. Nentawe G. Yilwatda to House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abass, Governors Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Charles Soludo (Anambra), Seyi Makinde (Oyo),Uba Sani (Kaduna),Dapo Abiodun (Ogun),ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party Rabiu Kwankwaso, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, this is one contest that can enhance or ruin relevance ahead of 2027.
It is a litmus test for the governors of Edo, Anambra, Oyo, Ogun and Kaduna governors, where high-profile battles will be fought, and for Yilwatda who is leading the APC troops in his first major task as national chairman.
Observers believe that a strong showing by the APC will further strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s foothold on the political landscape, while victory for crisis-ridden PDP could re-energise the party with more optimistic projections. And for smaller parties like ADC and LP, winning even one seat would be a morale booster.
At stake are two senatorial seats, one each in Edo and Anambra; five House of Representatives seats and nine state assembly seats.
The by-elections are scheduled for Adamawa, Anambra, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Taraba and Zamfara States.
In Adamawa, five candidates are vying for the House of Assembly in Ganye. In Anambra, 12 candidates are slugging it out for the Anambra South Senatorial District seat, which became vacant with the death of Ifeanyi Ubah a year ago, while five candidates are running for the Onitsha North 1 state House of Assembly seat.
In Edo State, eight contestants seek to occupy the Edo Central Senatorial District seat vacated by
Governor Okpebholo, while eight others are vying for the Ovia North East/Ovia South West House of Representatives position.
Jigawa State has 11 contenders for the Babura/Garki House of Representatives seat, Kaduna has nine gunning for a similar position in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency while Zaria/Kewaye state constituency has six contestants.
APC, PDP and ADC candidates are contesting the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat in Basawa.
In Kano, the Shanono/Bagwa state assembly seat will be contested by 10 candidates, while in Kogi State, five political parties are fielding candidates for the House of Assembly seat in Okura and five are also contesting a similar seat in Munya, Niger State.
In Ogun State, eight contestants are slugging it out for the House of Representatives seat in Ikenne/ Sagamu/ Remo North federal constituency while in neighbouring Oyo State the battle to represent Ibadan North Federal Constituency will be fought by the APC, PDP, ADC, APGA and ZLP.
In Taraba, the three political parties are fighting to take the House of Representatives seat in Karim Lamido Federal Constituency while 14 political parties are jostling to represent Kaura Namoda South in the Zamfara State House of Assembly.
Additional polls that were not listed on INEC website are the two court-ordered re-runs which INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun said would take place in Enugu South I (Enugu) and Ghari/Tsanyawa (Kano) after previous attempts were disrupted by violence. INEC’s initial plans for by-elections in Rivers’ Khana II and Zamfara’s Talata Mafara South constituencies remain suspended owing to security and legal issues.
The APC National Chairman visited Ogun and Edo states on Thursday and met with Governors Abiodun and Okpebholo to “tighten our preparedness and strengthen our winning strategies.”
Yilwatda, in a post on his X handle @nentawe1, said: “The energy and determination I saw among our leaders and members on the ground filled me with renewed confidence that the APC is ready to deliver decisive victories.
“Our mission as a party is about service, unity and the shared dream of a greater Nigeria.
“In this defining moment, I call on all APC members and supporters to stand as one, work tirelessly and keep faith in our collective strength.
“Victory is not just possible; it is certain when we march forward together with purpose and conviction. Our unity will deliver our victory.”
The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, said the party committed the same energy accorded the general elections to the by-elections.
“We are prepared for the by-elections in all the 16 constituencies. The same commitment we give to the general elections is what we are giving to off-season elections. August 16 election is no exception,” he told The Nation.
“With the level of our preparation, we are optimistic of victory. We are optimistic that we shall be victorious in almost all the constituencies come Saturday, August 16.”
Kaduna: El-Rufai, PDP take on Uba Sani
Historically, Kaduna State has always been the epicentre of power politics in the country, and the active involvement of Governor Sani, his predecessor El-Rufai and HoR Speaker Abass in the campaigns for their candidates in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, Zaria/Kewaye state constituency as well as Basawa state constituency is already causing anxiety across the state.
Former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been working round the clock to ensure victory for the ADC-led opposition coalition candidate for House of Representatives in Chikun Local Government Area, Mr. Alex Adamu, taking the campaign to Kujama, Rido and Nassarawa wards, and for ADC candidates in Zaria/Kewaye and Sabon Gari.
Since breaking ranks with the APC, he has been in the vanguard of the opposition to the ruling party and is determined to prove that he is still a force to reckon with in the state.
But some ADC members led by the state chairman, Ahmad Tijjani Mustapha, are resisting the former governor and his supporters who they accused of seeking to hijack the party from the ‘original’ members.
Mustapha declared in a statement on Thursday night that the ADC was not in any alliance with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the purpose of the election.
He said the ADC would contest the elections independently and had not formed any formal or informal coalition with other political parties.
He emphasised that no agreement—written or verbal—exists between the ADC and the SDP regarding the upcoming polls.
“The ADC in Kaduna State is not in any coalition or alliance. We remain focused on our campaign and encourage our supporters to vote for ADC candidates,” Mustapha said.
Governor Sani, who has won to his side many frontline politicians in the state since he assumed office, is also determined to prove his worth as a formidable force.
Observers say recent defection of political heavyweights in all parts of Southern Kaduna into APC can make all the difference for the ruling party.
The generality of the people of Southern Kaduna appear to be comfortable with the Sani administration, with many of them saying the governor has addressed their complaints of marginalization.
His campaign focused on the relative peace in a state that had practically being taken over by bandits prior to his swearing in as governor.
Speaker Abass, an indigene of the state, joined in the campaign for the APC, mobilising the people for the election.
Abass on Thursday led the grand finale of the APC campaign for the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency.
It was a five-hour rally rounded off with a drive through the streets of Zaria Kewaye, including Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, Kufena, Dutsen Abba and Filin Idin Katsinawa.
“With the mammoth crowd that attended the grand finale of the campaign rally, I am convinced that victory shall be ours come Saturday,” he said on his X handle Hon Abbas Tajudeen, PhD. @SpeakerAbbas
Sani, a former civil rights activist, grew up at great distance from ethnic and religious discrimination that plagued some of his predecessors.
Edo: APC, PDP in supremacy battle
The Edo Central Senatorial District seat was vacated by Governor Okpebholo (APC) who has been pulling all the strings to ensure that the seat remains in his party.
Fresh from what political foes tried to define as a controversial victory in the 2024 governorship election, Governor Okpebholo faces his first electoral test as APC leader in that contest and that of the Ovia North East/Ovia South West Federal Constituency.
Despite PDP’s keen preparations and its use of the incumbency factor during the Edo State governorship elections, Okpebholo roundly defeated PDP at the polls and in the courts.
The PDP wants victory in the elections badly if only to prove claims by its leaders that it was robbed of the governorship last year.
Candidates for the election in Edo Central are Hon Joseph Ikpea (APC) Prince Joe Okojie (PDP) and Hon Sergius Ogun (ADC).
The candidates for Ovia Federal Constituency in Edo South are Barrister Omosede Igbinedion (APC) Aikpitanyi Johnny (PDP) and Dr. Osayuki Asemota (ADC).
Other political parties in the race are the Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The APC seems to have the edge in Ovia Federal Constituency owing to the coming together of two former rivals – Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa and Barrister Igbinedion. Idahosa edged out Barrister Igbinedion from the House of Representatives in 2019 and defeated her again in 2023.
Idahosa hails from Ovia South West while Igbinedion hails from Ovia North East. The Igbinedions are a strong political family. Their patriarch, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, is responsible for many developmental projects in both local government areas.
Edo Central used to be the stronghold of the PDP until Governor Monday Okpebholo broke the jinx in 2023 to become the first elected APC Senator from the district. Okpebholo personally led the APC campaign in Edo Central.
The PDP had also campaigned effectively across the five local government areas. Candidate of the PDP, Prince Joe Okojie, hails from Uromi, the community with the highest number of voters in Edo Central.
The defection of PDP leaders ahead of the by-election may affect the chances of the party in today’s election.
Meanwhile, Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the APC to subvert the will of the people.
He said credible intelligence showed a multi pronged plan involving inducement of voters with cash, smuggling of prewritten result sheets into collation centres and the use of the Nigerian Police Force to unlawfully deny duly accredited PDP agents access to collation centres.
Aziegbemi said the party uncovered plans to unleash armed thugs to violently disrupt voting in PDP strongholds.
“This brazen move is aimed at producing a violent and manipulated outcome that bears no resemblance to the true will of the people. Democracy is about the will of the people freely expressed at the ballot box, not the will of desperate politicians imposed at gunpoint,” he said in a statement.
Anambra: Soludo’s APGA,APC,Obi’s candidate slug it out
How much influence does Peter Obi still wield in his home state of Anambra ahead of 2027? The answer will emerge today when his candidate, Donald Amamgbo of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) faces APC’s Azuka Okwuosa and APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu in the Anambra South Senatorial by-election.
The late Ifeanyi Uba won the seat in 2023 on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) but defected to the APC.
Governor Soludo, who has an axe to grind with Obi, is doing all he can to get it for Nwachukwu while the APC is leveraging on Uba’s political machinery.
The Labour Party (LP) on whose platform Obi contested the 2023 election as presidential candidate is raging that he forsook the party to campaign for ADC candidates this time around.
Factional chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, branded Obi delusional and mischievous for asking voters to go for ADC candidates when Labour Party candidates are on the ballot.
“It is unfortunate that Obi has turned himself into an irony and a paradox in the Nigerian political space,” Abure said.
“He is now reputed to have elevated subterfuge in the game of politics and has of late been crying wolf where there is none.
“He has turned himself into an ‘Uber’ politician, not willing to take a position and stand by his decision.
“He has now booked a place for himself in the Guinness Book of Records as a person affiliated with many political parties at the same time, all in his desperation to preside over Nigeria.
Obi has been flirting with ADC. He said his decision to campaign for ADC candidates was because the LP has no candidates recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) amid an internal crisis.
Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun has deployed Assistant Inspector General of Police, Godwin Eze, as the Supervisory Officer to Anambra for the two by-elections in the state.
While addressing the Officers at state Police headquarters on Thursday, he made it clear that only the police and other recognised government security outfits will take part in the elections.
The implication is that the security outfits set up by the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, namely, Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga Achi, will not be allowed to operate while the elections are on.
He said:”Consequently, all vigilante operatives, hunters and other quasi-security outfits are strictly prohibited from any form of engagement during the exercise.
“Furthermore, to ensure a safe and hitch-free election, there shall be restrictions on vehicular movement from 6am to 6pm in the affected areas throughout the election period.
“The areas include Nnewi North and South, Orumba North and South, Ekwusigo, Aguata and Ihiala local government areas respectively, for the Anambra South Senatorial District.
“Others are Onitsha North Constituency 1 as well as Awka South Local Government Area where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Headquarters is located.”
Abiodun, Adebutu rekindle rivalry in Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North
The stakes are no less high in Ikenne/Federal Constituency of Ogun State where the state governor Dapo Abiodun and the PDP governorship candidate in 2023, Ladi Adebutu, are back in the trenches to test their popularity ahead of 2027.
Both Abiodun and Adebutu are from Remo.
The governor is rooting for APC’s Princess Sola Elegbeji while Adebutu is all for PDP’s Bolarinwa Oluwole. The seat was won in 2023 by APC’s Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga a.k.a. Ijaya.
Onanuga died last year.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has also thrown his weight behind Elegbeji, describing her as “the right choice at the right time.”
Adeola, who represents Ogun West, said Elegbeji is “an apostle of the progressive doctrines of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” and “a true scion of Remo Federal Constituency whose political philosophy is rooted in service, equity, and enlightenment.
“Princess Sola Elegbeji is not just a candidate—she is a continuation of a legacy,” Adeola said.
“She has subscribed fully to the tenets of the Renewed Hope Agenda as championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun. Her emergence is a convergence of history, competence, and vision,” he added.
The APC regards the election a must win as it wants to prove that it is firmly in charge in the state. The governor, Dapo Abiodun, and top members of the state chapter of the APC are leaving nothing to chance.
On its part, the PDP wants to win the contest to prove that it is a formidable force in the state.
Oyo: Can APC topple Makinde’s PDP in Ibadan?
Governor Makinde has a lot to prove in the Ibadan North state constituency by-election today.
For a man regarded as one of the current backbones of the PDP believed by some to be nursing presidential ambition in 2027, there would be no better opportunity than now to show his strength.
And he needs a decisive win to make his point.
Power Minister Bayo Adelabu, who has his eyes on the 2027 governorship ticket of the APC, is also being looked upon by party members to demonstrate his relevance in his home town.
Barau woos voters in Kano
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin led APC stakeholders to Shanono to woo voters ahead of the Shanono and Bagwai state constituency by-election.
The by-election is to fill the vacancy created by the demise of Halilu Kundila, a member of the APC.
Barau appealed to the people to vote for Ahmed Kademu, the APC candidate, in appreciation of the Tinubu administration’s reforms.
House of Representatives member Kabiru Abubakar from Bichi Constituency urged the people to support the APC candidate for a brighter future.
He highlighted the party’s commitment to developing the constituency, including a pledge to construct N10 billion worth of rural roads.
Kano State is controlled by the NNPP and is the home state of its leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Barau is determined to prove his relevance by delivering the election for the APC.
In Taraba, it is Kanda versus Shittu
For the Karim Lamido Constituency, Taraba State, the contest is between Ali Kanda (PDP) and Abner Shittu (APC). Both of them are greenhorns.
The constituency has been assailed by insecurity in the last three months. Thousands of lives have been lost and property destroyed by armed militias.
Ahead of the by-election, APC set up a 55-man campaign council.
It is headed by Senator Abdulazeez Yari, with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as vice chairman.
But the PDP, which controls the state, said it is not perturbed.
Dogari, Bawa, Adabyinlo poised for showdown in Niger
Gaje Dogari (APC), Joshua Bawa (ADC) and Sunday Sabo Adabyinlo (PDP) are poised for a showdown in Munya state constituency of Niger State.
APC Publicity Secretary Hon. Labaran said the party would win because the Governor Bago administration has not disappointed the state.
The ADC Chairman, Mohammed Yahaya, however disagreed, saying that his party would win.
SDP to participate in by-elections, says INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced a last-minute inclusion of the Social Democratic Party in the list of parties participating in the by-elections.
Spokesman for the commission, Sam Olumekun, said this followed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordering the commission to accept the list of candidates presented by the party.
The Commission said it did not include the party at the initial stage because SDP did not notify it of the conduct of party primaries and therefore did not monitor same as required by law.
The statement reads: “The Commission has been served with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025.
“In the judgment, the Commission was ordered to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidates in the by-elections in 12 states of the federation. The party did not earlier submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries for the by-elections. For this reason, they were not monitored by the Commission.
“However, in compliance with the judgment, the names of the candidates submitted manually have been accepted and published on our website. The party will participate in the by-elections.
“The Commission wishes to assure the public, especially voters in the 12 states, that the 11th-hour judgment will not affect the election which will proceed tomorrow Saturday, 16th August, 2025 as scheduled.
“Meanwhile, the Commission will exercise its legitimate right of appeal under the law.”
Materials for the election were being moved to the various local government areas yesterday as the commission intensified its preparation for the polls.
The Commission has accredited 60 local and four foreign election observers including the European Union delegation whose names have been published by the commission to monitor the election.
INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu assured Nigerians on Thursday that the commission was fully prepared for the by-election, with personnel and sensitive materials being deployed.
In his speech during INEC’s last consultative meeting with political parties, Prof. Yakubu stated that deaths, resignations and other factors necessitated the declaration of vacancies and the need for by-elections.
In a statement on Thursday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, gave assurances of INEC’s preparations for smooth conduct of today’s polls, noting that 3,553,659 registered voters are eligible to participate across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units.
Altogether, 30,451 officials have been deployed nationwide, even as INEC prepares to resume nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on Monday, August 18, with online pre-registration, followed by physical registration from August 25 at 811 INEC state and local government offices.
Police restrict movement in affected states
The Police authorities ordered restrictions on all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 12 am to 6 pm today within localities where the by-elections are taking place.
The only people exempted are those on essential services including INEC Officials, accredited media and electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies and firefighters.
Police Inspector General Egbetokun directed the deployment of operational logistics to the affected local government areas in Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara and Niger states.
In order to ensure smooth elections, the IGP has also directed the deployment of senior officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to assist state Commissioners of Police to ensure proper supervision of the electoral process for a smooth and hitch-free election.
Also deployed are officers and men of the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department and other tactical units.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who signed the statement, said all security aides to VIPs and escorts are not allowed to accompany their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
He added: “State-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
“The Inspector General of Police hereby charges all officers deployed for this special duty to ensure compliance with NPF standard operational protocols for elections and further urges all citizens to be law abiding during and after the elections and assures that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure their right to vote is unobstructed.”
Police commissioners in Oyo and Kogi States also announced their readiness for the day.
Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has told the people of Edo Central senatorial district that his predecessor, former Godwin Obaseki and the Peoples Democratic Party were never interested in developing the State.
Okpebholo said the administration of Obaseki was transactional.
The Edo Governor spoke in Ekpoma during the party’s final campaign rally.
Okpebholo assured the people that his administration would deliver more developmental project.
He said: “You see, because of what we are doing in Edo State, the people are asking, where were these funds? Let me tell you, Obaseki and the PDP were never interested in developing our state. They were not interested in our people. They were purely transactional people.”
In Ovia federal constituency, the Deputy Governor expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious.
“All that is needed is for us to fully mobilise and encourage our supporters to come out enmass to exercise their civic responsibilities on Saturday.
“It is very obvious that from our engagement with the people these past days and across various communities in the federal constituency, we are sure of not less than 90 percent of total votes cast.
“Infact, is not for the misdeed of the immediate past administration, Edo is home to the APC, it has always been right from the AC to ACN, and before the APC”, Idahosa stated
Five political parties, the All Progressives Congress, the African Democratic Congress, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and the Peoples Democratic Party signed the peace agreement ahead of Saturday’s By-election.
The political parties signed at a ceremony in Benin City and witnessed by security agencies.
Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Anugbum Onuaha, who also signed the peace pact, said all electoral materials have been dispatched.
Chairman of the Peace Committee, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase Of Benin, who was represented by Chief Jackson Igbinovia, urged all stakeholders and voters to conduct themselves peacefully at the polls.
He listed them to include building of an ultra-modern market in Irrua, dualisation of Ekpoma–Ubiaja Road and extension of a 33kV power line to end erratic power supply in the area.
Governor Okpebholo urged the people to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, describing him as “a leader who loves Edo State.”
He said: “If I do not develop my home, no one else will develop it.
“My coming here is just to thank you and tell you that I am ready to serve and work for our people. You resisted rigging, and we won very well.”
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to build a 500-bed hostel facility for the medical school of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
He made the promise during his campaign tour of wards in Esan West Local Government ahead of Saturday’s by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District.
The governor said construction would begin soon.
He said: “Edo State Government will build a 500-space hostel accommodation for the medical school in AAU, Ekpoma. In the coming weeks, we will mobilise work to start. Remember that the first thing I announced when I became the governor of Edo State was that we were going to increase the subvention of this school to N500 million. Have we not done it? Have we not constituted the governing council for the school?”
Okpebholo urged party faithful to work towards securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential election in 2027.
Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) has organised a free medical outreach at Idumabi Community in Esan Central Local Government as part of activities to woo voters for the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of Saturday’s by-election in the locality.
Executive Secretary, Dr. Coulson Osoikhia, who led the medical team, said there were plans to build a primary health centre at Idumabi.
He urged the community to support and vote for the candidate of the APC, Dr. Joseph Ikpea.
Osoikhia said Ikpea would collaborate with Governor Okphebholo to provide quality health care.
A supervising councillor in Irrua Ward, Mr Iyasele Clement, said Ikpea would deliver democracy dividends.
Edo state governor, Monday Okpebholo, has dismissed rumours about a rift between him and the deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa.
Governor Okpebholo said he has absolute trust in Idahosa.
Okpebholo spoke in Benin City at a thanksgiving service to mark Idahosa’s 45th birthday.
He said he consulted Idahosa on every decision he took as governor
The Thanksgiving service held at the Living Faith Church in Adesuwa was attended by political bigwigs in the state, such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Hon Johnson Oghuma, former Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu, former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Ogiadomhe, Lucky Imasuen, amongst others.
Okpebholo recalled how she told Idahosa at the lobby of the Transcorps Hilton in Abuja that he (Idahosa) would be his deputy, saying, “The word of the prophet today has come to pass today.”
He said, “I have absolute confidence in him, and we have been working very closely. We make decisions together. When you hear Akpakorescue, there is an inside discussion before we execute.
“Before we execute anything, we discuss and agree, and sometimes he will tell me, remember where we are coming from, remember your ways, so I see him as a partner and I believe in him.
“By the grace of God, I still believe that God is going to take him higher than this. I want to say a big congratulations to him, and the grace of God will continue to rest upon him.”
On his part, Idahosa attributed his political successes to the grace of God when he was appointed Commissioner at the age of 34.
He said he faced life’s early struggles after his father’s death when he was just six years old.
Idahosa recalled the challenges he faced while growing up, saying the challenges spurred his philanthropic gesture to empower women and youths.
According to him, “My father died when I was just six years old. It was my mother who stood by all of us.”
A former Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, praised the humility of Idahosa.
He described Idahosa as a politician of strong will.
“I will describe him with the experience I had with him. When I approached him to support former President Goodluck Jonathan, he said he could not remain with the Edo State Government as Commissioner and support the PDP. He had to resign his appointment to support Jonathan.”
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, under whose administration Idahosa served as Commissioner, said it was his former Deputy, Pius Odubu, who said Idahosa would be an asset to his administration.
Oshiomhole said that next Saturday’s by-election is a must-win to reaffirm the confidence Edo people have in Governor Monday Okpebholo.
He said the emergence of Barr. Omosede Igbinedion, as the APC candidate for Ovia Federal Constituency, was a challenge to the women to seek justice for another woman.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has promised to construct a 500-bed hostel facility for the medical school of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, in Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo made the promise during his campaign tour of several wards in Esan West Local Government Area ahead of Saturday’s by-election in Edo Central senatorial district.
He said construction work on the project would soon commence.
According to him, “Edo State Government will build a 500 hostel space accommodation for the medical school in AAU, Ekpoma. In the coming weeks, we will mobilise work to start. Remember that the first thing I announced when I became the Governor of Edo State was that we were going to increase the subvention of this school to ₦500 million. Have we not done it? Have we not constituted the governing council for the school?”
Governor Okpebholo urged party faithful to work towards securing 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential election in 2027.
Those nominated are Ohimai Ehijimetor, Eugenia Abdallah, Hon. Godwin Afekokhe Eshieshi and Prince Kassim Afegbua.
Last week, Okpebholo nominated Hon. Nosa Adams, Hon. Yakubu Oshiorenua Musa, Dr. Felix Ehiguese Akhabue and Prof. Omorodion Ignatius Ikponmwosa as Commissioner-designated.
Okpebholo has appointed only six Commissioners since he was sworn-in last year.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor said the names of the nominees would be forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.
It said the Governor also approved the appointment of Aigbogun Collins, as Special Adviser on Youth Mobilisation and Osobase Oboaguina as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation, Edo Central.
