INEC presents certificates to by-election winners, Faduyile absent

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday presented Certificates of Return to winners of the June 20 by-elections conducted in four senatorial districts and a federal constituency across the country.

However, the senator-elect for Ondo South Senatorial District, Prof. Francis Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress, was absent during the ceremony held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

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Representing the INEC Chairman, the National Commissioner supervising Cross River, Delta and Edo states, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, said the commission was satisfied with the peaceful conduct of the elections and commended political parties and candidates for ensuring orderly polls.

She said the presentation of Certificates of Return was in fulfilment of the commission’s constitutional responsibility following the declaration of winners in the by-elections.

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Among those presented with certificates was APC’s Ikeje Asogwa Israel, who emerged winner of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Christian Ezeibe, had declared Asogwa winner after polling 162,360 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Nestor Ezeme, who scored 9,299 votes.

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Okey Ezea in November 2025.

Also presented with a certificate was APC candidate Danladi Halilu Envulu-Anza, who won the Nasarawa North Senatorial District seat.

According to the Returning Officer, Prof. Aminu Ali, Envulu-Anza secured 45,362 votes, defeating Labour Party candidate Labaran Maku, who polled 12,931 votes, and the PDP’s Emmanuel David Ombugadu, who garnered 11,570 votes.

The seat became vacant following the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki after a prolonged illness.

Although declared winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District election, Faduyile was noticeably absent during the presentation ceremony.

INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, had announced that the APC candidate polled 68,474 votes to defeat Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement, who secured 1,411 votes.

The election was held to replace former senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In Rivers South-East Senatorial District, the PDP’s Olaka Nwogu Johnson received his Certificate of Return after polling 47,961 votes to defeat APC candidate Osar Erewari, who scored 1,647 votes.

The by-election followed the death of Senator Barry Mpigi in February 2026.

For the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano State, APC candidate Rabiu Shuaibu was presented with his certificate after winning the election with 35,356 votes.

He defeated Lawal Garba Haruna of the Allied Peoples Movement, who polled 268 votes, and Labour Party candidate Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad, who scored 98 votes.

The seat became vacant following the death of the constituency’s representative, Muhammad Danjuma-Hassan of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Agbamuche-Mbu disclosed that Certificates of Return would also be issued to winners of the Zuru State Constituency by-election in Kebbi State and the Ekiti State governorship election.

She urged the newly elected lawmakers to justify the confidence reposed in them by their constituents through quality representation.

National Commissioners Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Ken Ikiagwu, Dr Baba Gbila, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru and Prof. Rhoda Gumus attended the ceremony.

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