From John Adams, Minna
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mathew Dogara Daje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the by-election for the Munya Constituency seat in the Niger State House of Assembly held on Saturday, August 16.
The Returning Officer, Professor Abdulkarim Ambali Saka, announced that Daje secured 12,556 votes, defeating his closest rival, Sabo Sunday Adabyinlo of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 5,646 votes, a margin of 6,910 votes. The APC won 10 out of 11 wards, with the PDP securing one ward.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy in the Niger State House of Assembly following the death of the former PDP lawmaker, Hon. Joseph Haruna Duza, nearly a year ago.
While the election was described as peaceful with a high voter turnout in most polling units, the PDP candidate, Sabo Sunday Adabyinlo, rejected the results, alleging that the APC used state resources, vote buying, and intimidation to manipulate the outcome in their favour.
In a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Political and Strategy, Mohammed Nma Kolo, dismissed the allegations, describing the APC’s victory as a reflection of the acceptability of the APC-led administration in the state. He urged politicians to accept defeat in good faith and in the spirit of sportsmanship, emphasising that every contest must have a winner and a loser.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Niger State, Ahmed Yusha’u Garki, described the election as a huge success, commending voters in Munya Local Government for their peaceful conduct and applauding security agencies, stakeholders, and INEC officials for their diligent and professional discharge of duties.
In his acceptance remarks, Mathew Dogara Daje expressed gratitude to Governor Umar Bago and APC supporters across Munya Local Government for their overwhelming support during the election.
