The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), don waka comot from Saturday bye-election with 12 seats out of 16 wey dem contest for 12 states. Other parties – APGA, PDP and NNPP – share the remaining four.
Many people see di election as one small test-run ahead of 2027 general election, and as e be, most parties hold on to dia usual stronghold.
Tinubu Celebrate Victory
President Bola Tinubu, through him media aide Bayo Onanuga, hail APC winners and thank INEC say di election run “largely hitch-free.”
Tinubu yan say di kind result show say Nigerians still get confidence for him government. E also hail di new APC national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, say di man don show leadership and deliver big victory for party.
APC spokesperson, Felix Morka, add say di win na “endorsement” of Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda, and e show say Nigerians dey feel the work wey APC dey do for economy and governance.
Opposition No Gree
But ADC, Labour Party (LP) and PDP no accept di result.
ADC cry say intimidation, corruption and violence full ground. LP go further, call di election “mockery of democracy” and warn say e be like dress rehearsal of rigging ahead of 2027.
LP accuse APC, INEC and security men of join-body for vote buying and ballot manipulation. Dem yan say: “If INEC no fit handle this small bye-election well, how dem wan take manage 2027 nationwide poll?”
PDP leaders still dismiss di matter, call am “political circus” wey script don already write before show start.
Wahala and Arrests
Even though APC praise security men, violence no absent. For Kano, police arrest almost 300 suspected thugs wey carry dangerous weapons.
For di state, APC win Ghari/Tsanyawa seat, while NNPP hold Bagwai/Shanono. But APC still dey call for cancellation of both results, say wahala too plenty.
Elsewhere, APGA guard dia territory well, win Anambra South Senatorial seat and Onitsha North I. APC sweep Edo Central and Ovia for Edo, and Remo Federal seat for Ogun.
PDP score symbolic victory for Oyo’s Ibadan North Federal Constituency – first time since 2011. For Adamawa, APC edge PDP with just 129 votes difference.
Eyes on 2027
For APC side, the bye-election na clear sign say Tinubu dey on course. But opposition dey warn say di wahala wey surround di vote fit cast shadow on 2027 credibility.
One PDP man put am like this: “This whole thing na charade, but by joining, we don already give am legitimacy.”
For now, APC dey jubilate, but the strong cry from ADC, LP and PDP don set stage for serious political battle as Nigeria dey march go 2027.
