The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victorious in two crucial by-elections conducted to fill vacant legislative seats in Kano and Rivers states.
In Kano State, APC candidate Rabiu Shuaibu emerged winner of the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency by-election held on Saturday, securing a landslide victory over his opponents.
Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Prof. Umar Sani, stated that Shuaibu polled 35,356 votes to defeat Lawal Garba-Haruna of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), who garnered 268 votes, while Abubakar Yahaya-Muhammad of the Labour Party (LP) received 98 votes.
Declaring the result, Sani said Shuaibu had fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements and was therefore elected as the representative of the constituency in the House of Representatives.
“The election was contested. Rabiu Shuaibu of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the returning officer announced.
The by-election was conducted following the death of the constituency’s former representative, Muhammad Danjuma-Hassan of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), whose passing created a vacancy in the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, in Rivers State, the PDP recorded a decisive victory in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election, with its candidate, Wogu Olaka Johnson, defeating candidates of three other political parties.
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The result was announced on Sunday by the Returning Officer, Prof. Rosemary Ogwu, at the Rivers South-East Senatorial District Collation Centre located at the Khana Local Government Council Secretariat in Bori.
According to Ogwu, Johnson secured a commanding 47,961 votes to emerge winner of the keenly contested poll.
His closest rival, Osar Erewari of the APC, polled 1,647 votes, while Douglas Fabeka Beke of the Action Alliance (AA) received 1,175 votes. Labour Party candidate Sam Barikwa finished with 367 votes.
“I hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election held on June 20, 2026,” Ogwu said while announcing the result.
She added that Johnson satisfied all legal requirements and obtained the highest number of valid votes cast, thereby earning the mandate of the electorate.
“Wogu Olaka Johnson of the PDP is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” she stated.
The declaration ceremony was attended by several senior INEC officials, including National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu and Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Johnson Siniken.
Also present were Delta State REC, Mr. Etekamba Omoren; Rivers State Administrative Secretary, Dr. Angela Ebhodaghe; Deputy Director of Election Management at INEC Headquarters, Dr. Mohamed Fufore; Head of Electoral Operations in Rivers State, Mr. Otafu Peter; local government collation officers, electoral officers, party agents, security personnel, and journalists.
The Rivers South-East Senatorial by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy left by the death of Senator Barry Barinada Mpigi in February 2026.
The outcomes of both by-elections underscore the continued dominance of major political parties in their respective strongholds. While the APC consolidated its hold on the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency seat in Kano State, the PDP reinforced its influence in Rivers South-East Senatorial District with an overwhelming margin of victory.
Political observers note that the results could provide fresh momentum for both parties ahead of future electoral contests, while also offering an indication of voter alignment in two politically strategic regions of the country.
The successful conduct of the by-elections further adds to INEC’s ongoing efforts to fill legislative vacancies and maintain full representation for affected constituencies in the National Assembly.