The candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the People Democratic Party on Sunday displaced candidates of other parties and won the 15 by -elections in held on Saturday in their stronghold states .
In Lagos , the candidate of the All Progressives Congress , Tokunbo Abiru , won the Lagos East senatorial bye -election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer for the bye – election, Prof . Ademola Oremosu , on Sunday announced that Abiru polled a total of 89 , 204 votes to defeat his closest rival , Babatunde Gbadamosi of the Peoples Democratic Party , who got 11 , 257 votes to emerge second among candidates from 12 political parties.
Abiru won in all the five Local Government Areas in the senatorial district .
The candidate of the APC in the Kosofe Constituency II of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Obafemi Saheed , also defeated seven other candidates in the state House of Assembly bye – election held on Saturday.
Similarly, in Katsina State , the returning officer for the Bakori Local Government State Constituency bye election, Prof . Aminu Kankia, declared Dr Ibrahim Kurami of the APC winner of the election .
According to him , Kurami scored 20 , 446 votes to defeat his close rival , Alhaji Aminu Magaji of the PDP , who polled 11 , 356 votes .
Likewise , the candidate of the APC in the Dass constituency bye – election in Bauchi State , Bala Lukshi, was declared the winner .
The Returning Officer , Prof . Ahmed Mohammed , said Lukshi , polled a total of 12 , 299 votes to defeat Lawal Wandi , candidate of the PDP , who polled 11 , 062 votes .
He said , “ The candidate of the All Progressives Congress , Bala Lukshi , haven scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner and returned elected . ”
Also in Plateau State , the candidate of the APC, Prof . Nora Daduut , was declared the winner for Plateau South Senatorial bye – election.
The Returning Officer , Prof . Idris Amali , said Daduut polled a total of 83 , 15104 to defeat nine other candidates including her closest rival and the PDP candidate , George Daika , who got 70 , 838 votes .
Additionally , INEC on Sunday declared Mr Egbunu Atule of the APC as the winner of the Ibaji Local Government Constituency bye- election of Kogi State .
The Returning Officer, Prof Rotimi Ajayi, at Onyadega, headquarters of the local government , said Atule polled 8 , 515 votes to emerge the winner .
Ajayi also announced that Mr Daniel Enefola of the Peoples Democratic Party came second having scored 4 , 565 votes .
Meanwhile , the candidate of the PDP, Dr Stephen Odey, was declared winner of the Cross River Northern Senatorial District bye – election by the returning officer, Prof Ameh Dennis Akoh .
He scored a total of 129 , 207 votes to defeat Joe Agi of the APC, who scored 19 , 165 votes .
The PDP candidate , Maria Akwaji , also won the Obudu State Constituency seat in the House of Assembly.
Likewise , INEC on Sunday declared the candidate of the PDP , Mrs Amaka Ugwueze , winner of the Isi – Uzo State constituency bye – election on Enugu State .
INEC collation officer, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, said the PDP candidate polled a total of 11 , 047 votes to defeat the APC candidate Ejiofor Okwor , who scored 2 , 293 votes .
Also , in Bayelsa State , the PDP won the bye – elections in Bayelsa Central and West senatorial districts to retain the seats vacated by Governor Douye Diri and his deputy , Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo .
In Bayelsa Central , the PDP polled 20 , 922 votes in Kolokuma / Opokuma LGA ; 54 , 390 in Yenagoa LGA and 44 , 707 votes in Southern Ijaw LGA , while the APC scored 4 , 980 votes ; 6 , 155 ; and 7 , 812 votes , respectively .
The INEC Returning Officer for Bayelsa Central , Dr Emmanuel Akpan, declared the candidate of the PDP, Moses Cleopas, winner for the district .
In Bayelsa West, the PDP polled a total of 115 , 257 votes in Ekeremor LGA and 68 , 156 in Sagbama, while the APC scored 17 , 541 votes and 7 , 303 votes , respectively .
Also , the flag bearer of the PDP in Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, was also declared winner for the district .
INEC fails to name Imo APC candidate
However , there was drama at the state Secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri when the Election Returning Officer , Hakeem Adikum, declared the APC the winner of the Imo North bye -election without returning a candidate .
Adikum, who quickly rose after announcing the results scored by various political parties and their candidates , simple said , “ I hereby return the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the bye – election held in Imo North on Saturday, December 5 . ”
He said the APC scored 36 , 811 votes , while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the People Democratic Party came second with 31 , 903 votes .
INEC ’ s failure to return any APC candidate caused disquiet as the supporters of the two persons , Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim , laying claims to the APC ticket went home dejected .
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State , Prof Francis Ezeonu , told journalists that the electoral umpire was unable to return a particular candidate from the APC because of several court orders for and against Araraume and Ibezim .
Recall that an Abuja federal High court had on Friday barred Ibezim for from contesting elections .
The same day , a court of Appeal in Owerri sacked Araraume as the candidate of the APC and declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the party .
‘Zamfara bye – election inconclusive’
Also in Zamfara State , INEC declared the bye – election in Bakura constituency inconclusive.
Two ad – hoc staff of the commission was similarly declared missing and their whereabouts were still unknown at the time of filing in this report .
Addressing journalists on Sunday , the returning officer, Prof . Ibrahim Magawata, said the election results of five polling units in Bakura ward had been cancelled .
The affected units, according to Magawata, have a total number of 11 , 429 votes .
He however declared that , so far , the PDP candidate , Alhaji Ibrahim Tudu has scored the total number of 18 , 645 votes , while the APC candidate , Alhaji Bello Gamji , scored 16 , 464 votes .
But while celebrating the APC win in Plateau State, Governor Simon Lalong , said the victory was not surprising as the APC was well rooted in the whole state .
Similarly, Governor Babajide Sanwo -Olu of Lagos State in a statement described Abiru and Saheed ’ s victory as a validation of peoples ’ confidence in the APC .
I ’ll not disappoint , says Abiru
Similarly, Abiru , while responding to his victory promised to translate his campaign promises into tangible outcomes .
Abiru said , “ I commit myself irrevocably to the agenda I laid out before the electorate , offering people -focused quality representation ; ensuring welfare of my constituents ; working with my colleagues in the National Assembly to ensure special status for Lagos . ”
