APC Sweeps Majority in August 16 By-Elections as APGA, NNPP, PDP Secure Strategic Wins
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged as the biggest winner in the by-elections conducted across 12 Nigerian states on Saturday, August 16, 2025, securing key seats in both state and federal legislatures.
The elections, organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were held to fill vacant seats in 16 constituencies resulting from court-ordered reruns, resignations, or the deaths of sitting lawmakers.
The APC claimed victories in Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Jigawa, Ogun, Niger, Ekiti, and Edo States, consolidating its position as the ruling party and strengthening its presence at both the national and state levels.
In Adamawa State, the APC won the rerun election for the Ganye State Constituency seat in the House of Assembly.
The party’s candidate, Musa Misi, defeated his closest rival, Buba Joda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by a narrow margin, reclaiming the seat after it was previously nullified by the courts.
Kaduna State also delivered a significant win for the APC, where Isa Haruna Mohammed secured the Zaria Kewaye Constituency seat in the House of Assembly with over 26,000 votes, defeating candidates from the PDP and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The APC further extended its control in the state by winning two additional Assembly seats.
In Edo State, the party recorded a landslide victory in the Ovia Federal Constituency by-election. Former lawmaker Omosede Igbinedion, who ran under the APC platform, polled over 77,000 votes, defeating her opponents from the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with a wide margin.
The APC also won the Edo South Senatorial seat, further bolstering its influence in the South-South region.
Jigawa and Ogun States saw the APC retain their hold on House of Representatives seats, while the party maintained its dominance in Niger and Ekiti State Assemblies with decisive victories.
However, the by-elections were not without gains for opposition parties. In Kano State, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won the Fagge Federal Constituency seat in a high-profile contest that unseated the APC’s incumbent.
The NNPP continues to consolidate its growing support base in Kano, even as the APC reclaimed the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency in a supplementary election.
The Peoples Democratic Party also made inroads in the South-West, winning the House of Representatives seat in Oyo State. This victory offered a reprieve for the PDP following losses in other regions and signaled that it remains a competitive force, particularly in the Yoruba heartland.
In Anambra, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) maintained its stronghold in the Southeast by winning the Anambra South Senatorial seat and a seat in the State House of Assembly. The victories further affirmed APGA’s continued relevance in its traditional base, despite growing national competition.
INEC, in its post-election assessment, commended the conduct of voters and stakeholders, noting that the exercise was largely peaceful and orderly across the participating states. The Commission also stated that certificates of return would be issued to all duly elected candidates in the coming days.
The outcome of the by-elections is being interpreted by political analysts as a mid-cycle referendum on party performance and grassroots support. For the APC, the results reflect a sustained level of national appeal despite ongoing political and economic challenges. The opposition, while facing losses in some strongholds, demonstrated its resilience and capacity to challenge in select constituencies.
As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, Saturday’s vote serves as an early signal of voter sentiment and the evolving dynamics among the country’s leading political parties.
