By Samuel Akpan
President Bola Tinubu has hailed the winners of Saturday’s legislative by-elections across five constituencies in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta, after the All Progressives Congress (APC) took four seats.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) claimed the remaining seat.
The polls covered one federal constituency and four State House of Assembly districts.
Tinubu said: “I am encouraged by the support Nigerians at the grassroots continue to show for our party and for the difficult but necessary reforms our administration has implemented over the past three years.”
He added: “I urge Nigerians to remain steadfast and not be swayed by political opportunism. The benefits of these reforms will become increasingly evident as we enter the next phase of our programme.”
The President said the APC wins showed public faith in the party’s ability to govern and deliver shared prosperity.
The statement was issued on Sunday, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
APC victors are Kallamu MaiJama’a for Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency, Husseini Datti for Dawakin Kudu in Kano, and Okolosi Ator for Udu in Delta.
Yakubu Ali took Disina State Constituency in Bauchi for the APC, while Adamu Yakubu of the APM won Sakwa State Constituency, also in Bauchi.
Tinubu urged the new lawmakers to justify their constituents’ trust through diligent and effective representation.
He asked defeated candidates to accept the results in good faith and keep contributing to the democratic process.
The President commended voters and security agencies for keeping the polls peaceful, and praised INEC for running them after the August 15 Osun governorship election.
He urged INEC to build on the gains, fix any lapses, and prepare for future contests, especially the 2027 general elections.
The commission had called the five by-elections operational tests that could yield lessons before the 2027 polls.