For the APC, the by-election wins consolidate its dominance in Kaduna politics and offer a strong platform as it prepares for bigger electoral contests.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend tightened its hold on Kaduna politics with a clean sweep of the National Assembly and State Assembly by-elections conducted across the state.
The ruling party not only reclaimed the strategic Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency won by the late Ekene Abubakar of the Labour Party in 2023, but also secured resounding victories in the Kaduna House of Assembly contests for Zaria Kewaye and Basawa constituencies.
In the federal constituency race, APC’s Felix Bagudu polled 34,580 votes to defeat Esther Ashivelli Dawaki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who managed 11,491 votes. The Returning Officer, Abubakar Mohammed Jumare, declared the results on Sunday on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The contest was considered a major test for both parties, as Chikun/Kajuru has been a battleground in previous elections. Observers say the wide margin of victory for the APC reflects growing confidence in the ruling party’s grassroots structures and campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC’s dominance extended to the state legislature. In Basawa constituency, APC candidate Dahiru Umar-Sani emerged victorious with 10,996 votes, defeating PDP’s Muazu Danyaro, who garnered 5,499 votes. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Danbala Usman, came third with 811 votes, while Mahmuda Almustapha of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) trailed with 146 votes.
In Zaria Kewaye constituency, the ruling party again posted a convincing win as Isa Mohammed of the APC polled 26,613 votes. His closest rival, Nuhu Muazu of the SDP, secured 5,721 votes, while Mahmud Wappa of the PDP finished third with 5,331 votes.
The outcomes are seen as a morale booster for the APC, which has been under pressure to demonstrate electoral strength amid rising public concerns over economic hardship in the state.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, particularly the PDP, will be forced back to the drawing board after yet another disappointing performance in Kaduna, once regarded as its stronghold. Analysts say the results could deepen internal debates within the PDP on strategy and leadership as the party struggles to regain lost ground.
The SDP and more so the ADC, which entered Saturday’s contest with ambitious expectations, suffered crushing defeats by wide margins. The outcome is a political setback not only for the parties but also for former governor Nasir El-Rufai, whose visible support for their candidates failed to sway voters.
Analysts suggest the result may compel El-rufai to recalibrate his strategy and influence within Kaduna’s evolving political landscape.
For the APC, the by-election wins consolidate its dominance in Kaduna politics and offer a strong platform as it prepares for bigger electoral contests. With three legislative seats secured in a single weekend, the ruling party has once again underscored its political supremacy in the state.
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