From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has dismissed insinuations that President Bola Tinubu is supporting Governor Charles Soludo for the forthcoming November 8 Anambra State governorship election.
Ajibola argued that President Tinubu is politically grounded enough not to engage in anti-party politics by abandoning the candidate of the party, Nicholas Ukachukwu, to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Dismissing fears and anxiety that President Tinubu is supporting Soludo judging by the repeated meetings they have held in recent times, the ruling party’s chief scribe, replied: “President Bola Tinubu does not engage in anti-party.”
He equally defended the delay in constituting the campaign council three months to the governorship poll, insisting that it was not true that the APC leadership is not enthusiastic about it.
While hinging the delay on the just concluded legislative by-elections held last weekend, the party’s scribe asked: “Who says we are not enthusiastic about constituting the National Campaign Council? We are putting final touches to the composition and could have been completed but for the need to pause to concentrate on the by-election just concluded last Saturday.
“Our party is committed to winning all elections as you can see with our superlative performance in the recent bye elections across 12 states where we won seats even in states not under APC government.”
Ajibola also reacted to the impression from concerned persons that the poor performance of APC in Anambra during the by-elections, where its candidate, Ukachukwu even lost in his ward, was a sign of rejection of the party. “We take every election as it comes,” he quipped.
Meanwhile, claims and counter-claims have trailed the by-election held to fill vacant political positions in some parts of the country.
In Kaduna, Zamfara, Oyo, Anambra and Edo States, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are locked in allegation and counter-allegation.
Kaduna State chapter of the PDP rejected the results of the House of Representatives and State Assembly over alleged intimidation and vote-buying and other irregularities.
The by-elections were held in Basawa, Zaria Kewaye and Chikun/Kajuru state and federal constituencies.
PDP alleged that the APC-led government in the state deployed what it described as “gestapo and commando tactics” to frustrate its chances at the polls.
“The abduction of our candidate and members of our campaign committee for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, seizure of funds meant for logistics and agents’ allowances, and massive vote buying were carried out in full public glare. This showcases the APC’s shameless disregard for democracy,” the statement read.
While rejecting the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the opposition party announced that it would meet with its candidates, stakeholders, and legal team to determine its next course of action.
The PDP also decried the low voter turnout, attributing it to loss of confidence in the electoral process and the alleged failure of Governor Uba Sani to conduct local government elections in the state since 2024.
“We are afraid that if this undemocratic trend continues, the problem of voter apathy will only worsen and peak dangerously by 2027,” the party warned.
Oyo APC cries foul
The APC in Oyo State alleged widespread irregularities in the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, faulting the declaration of the PDP candidate as winner.
INEC had declared Folajimi Oyekunle of the PDP winner while Adewale Olatunji of the APC emerged runner-up after polling the second-highest votes.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, APC reaffirmed its commitment to participatory democracy and the sanctity of free, fair as well as credible elections in the state.
“Regrettably, established cases of irregularities which characterised the by-election brought back the ugly memory of Obasanjo’s era when elections were dubbed do-or-die affairs by the PDP,” it said.
The party alleged that some PDP chieftains distributed huge amounts of money for vote-buying across polling booths, while some INEC officials allegedly allowed individuals without PVCs to vote in several wards.
“Handlers of the Park Management System (PMS) allegedly mobilised and equipped hundreds of members to intimidate residents and compromise the poll. “Some of these people allegedly unleashed terror across Yemetu, Bodija, Sango and Agbowo.”
Sadare said that the APC was compiling details of irregularities and the final decision would be made public soon.
The party urged members to remain calm and keep faith with APC leadership at all levels.
Soludo’s performance paved way for APGA’s victory –Ibezim
Deputy Governor of Anambra, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has thanked the people of Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency for their massive support, which gave victory to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Dr Emmanuel Nwachukwu of APGA won Anambra South Senatorial District with 90,408 ahead of Chief Azuka Okwuosa, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 19,847.
In Onitsha North Constituency I, Mrs Ifeoma Ikpeazu-Azikiwe, won with 7,774 votes ahead of Mrs Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who polled 1,909 votes.
Speaking on the outcome of the by-election held in both constituencies, Ibezim told newsmen in Awka that the electorate in Anambra had again affirmed that APGA was not just a political party but a movement.
He said the electorate had clearly stated that the party had a strong imprint on their hearts because of its laudable performance since 2025.
The deputy governor said the convincing win of the APGA candidates was made possible by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo who campaigned with his infrastructure projects and human capital development programmes and policies.
Prove your claims, Zamfara APC tells PDP
The Zamfara chapter of the APC challenged the PDP to prove its allegations of harassment of voters against the party and the security agencies at the by-election in Kaura Namoda South.
The State APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, stated this at a news briefing in Gusau on Monday.
The state PDP Chairman, Dr Jamilu Magayaki, had another press briefing in Gusau accusing the APC and the security agencies for intimidating and harassing PDP members during the by-election.
Magayaki further alleged that the APC had deployed the military to intimidate voters during the by-election.
Idris said all the allegations against the party and the security agencies were baseless and untrue.
“It is very surprising that the PDP made such unfounded claims because of their failure of losing the election.
“Prove your claims to the appropriate authorities, report all your allegations to INEC or the Tribunal of this election.
“What we expect from them are evidences to prove their claims just as we have in our possession, videos and still pictures,” Idris said
He urged the state PDP leadership to present their allegations before the relevant authorities instead of issuing emotional statements to mislead the public.
He called on the state PDP chairman to avoid involving the issue of insecurity into political issues.
“This is very unfortunate for a political party to create lies and propaganda to divert the attention of the members of the public.
“I think our security personnel were stationed at the polling units to prevent violence and all kinds of election malpractices such as ballot snatching and destruction of election materials.
“The claim that the Army was inside polling centres lacks proof and is a deliberate distortion of reality,” he added.
Idris further said that the claims by the PDP and the attempt to drag the Nigerian military into partisan politics were reckless and dangerous.
He stated that the Zamfara PDP chapter was making a desperate attempt to cover up its defeat in the Kaura Namoda South by-election instead of accepting the will of the people.
Idris said,”The PDP leaders exposed their inability to accept defeat and are now looking for excuses having been defeated at the poll.”
He commended the voters for coming out en masse and exercised their constitutional rights.
Idris assured that the APC and its members would continue to be law-abiding.
The Ogun State chairman of the APC, Yemi Sanusi, has congratulated the National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and other national party leaders for the victories recorded by the APC in various constituencies where by-elections were held on Saturday.
Sanusi equally congratulated Governor Dapo Abiodun, noting that the Remo Federal Constituency where the by-election took place is the governor’s primary constituency, adding “no doubt, his Building Our Future Together Agenda has rubbed off on us”.
The Ogun APC Chairman, who stated this in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen at the weekend, attributed the successes recorded by the APC at the elections to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He, however, praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting a free, fair, and credible by-elections, saying the exercise was a testament to an unbiased electoral process.
He further commended the security agencies for ensuring peace and order before, during, and after the elections.
While congratulating the newly elected House of Representatives member and Ogun APC candidate in the by-election, Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, Sanusi urged her to remain humble in victory and admonished her to embrace her co-contestants as partners in building Remo Federal Constituency.
Sanusi concluded by reaffirming the APC’s commitment to democratic principles in Ogun under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun and President Tinubu at the national level.
