APC claims all three Kaduna bye-elections, breaks PDP stronghold

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in all three bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across Kaduna State on Saturday.

In the closely watched Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency race, APC candidate Felix Bagudu polled 34,580 votes to defeat his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, who managed 11,491 votes.

For the first time since 1999, the ruling party secured wins in both Kajuru and Chikun, areas long considered PDP strongholds.

Official figures show APC garnered 10,487 votes in Kajuru against PDP’s 6,789, while in Chikun the APC candidate received 24,093 votes compared to PDP’s 4,702.

“This victory signals a turning point in Kaduna politics. Our supporters stood firm, and the people have shown their confidence in the APC,” Bagudu told reporters shortly after the declaration.

The momentum carried into Zaria, where APC swept the bye-elections in both Kewaye and Basawa constituencies.

At Zaria Kewaye, the returning officer, Professor Balarabe Abdullahi, announced Isa Haruna Ihamo of APC as the winner with 26,613 votes.

His closest competitor, Nuhu Sada Abdullahi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), secured 5,721 votes, while PDP’s Mamuda Abdullahi Wappa trailed with 5,331 votes.

In Basawa, APC also prevailed as Professor Nasiru Rabiu declared the party’s candidate winner with 10,926 votes against PDP’s 5,499 votes.

AFRIPOST reports that the clean sweep has reinforced APC’s grip on the state, particularly in Zaria, where opposition parties had hoped to test the ruling party’s dominance.

A political analyst in Kaduna, commenting on the outcome, said: “This round of elections shows APC’s ability to break new ground. For the opposition, especially the PDP, the results raise tough questions about strategy ahead of 2027.”

With the victories, APC has tightened its hold on Kaduna’s political landscape, dealing a significant blow to opposition parties in the state.