By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The outcome of the Saturday,18 March, 2023 governorship polls held in 28 states of the federation shows that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is leading in the number of states won across the country.
The party has now added Sokoto to its fold going by the results so far released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Results at a glance:
Lagos State: Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been declared the winner of the governorship election in Lagos State.
The incumbent Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, polled a total of 762,134 to defeat first runner-up, Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who secured 312,329 votes, while Abdulazeez Adeniran of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, got 62,449 votes.
Ogun State
The Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dapo Abiodun has won the Ogun State Governorship Election.
Abiodun was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday, 19 March, 2023.
The incumbent Governor, who is standing for a second and final term, beat his closest rival, Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 13,915 vote margin to emerge victorious.
He scored 276,298 votes to defeat Adebutu who polled a total of 262,383 votes.
Candidate of the Africa Democratic Party, ADP, Biyi Otegbeye came third on 94,754 votes.
Oyo State
Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state was re-elected for a second term in office after winning in all the 33 local government areas of the state.
The incumbent Oyo State Governor scored a total of 563,756 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin who scored 256,685 votes.
Sokoto State
In far away Sokoto States, Ahmed Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress,(APC), has displaced the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after several years. In what is considered one of the major upsets, Aliyu polled 453, 661 to defeat PDP’s Saidu Umar who scored 404, 632 votes.
Yobe State
The APC recorded another victory in the Northern State as incumbent Gov Mai Mala Buni was announced as the winner of the election. Buni polled 317,113 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Alhaji Sherif Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 124,259 votes.
Kwara State
The ruling party, APC has also retained Kwara State. Efforts by former governor Bukola Saraki to return the PDP to power failed. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulrmRazaq polled 226,956 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Alhaji Shuabu Yaman, who scored 123,118 votes. The APC beat the PDP in all the local government areas of the state.
Gombe State
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State retains his seat to continue his second term in office. Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 342, 821 votes to defeat his closest rival Mr Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 233, 131 votes.
Jigawa State
In Jigawa, the APC has produced a new governor-elect in the person of Umar Namadi Dammodi. He scored the high votes of 618,449 to defeat the PDP candidate, Lamido Mustapha Sule who scored 368,726. Dammodi takes over from Governor Badaru Abubakar.
Katsina State
The APC has also retained President Muhammdu Buhari’s home State, Katsina. Former SMEDAN Director General and APC Governorship Candidate, Dr Dikko Umar Radda emerged winner with 859,892 votes, while Yakubu Lado (PDP) scored 486,620 votes.
Akwa Ibom State
Governor Udom Emmanuel has succeeded in having his chosen successor elected. Mr Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), survived stiff opposition from the Young Peoples Party, YPP, to retain the state for his party. Eno won in 29 out of 31 local government areas of the state to defeat Sen. Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). He scored 354,348 votes, while Akpan of the YPP got 136,262 votes.
Kano State
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP), Abba Kabir Yusuf as the winner of kano State gubernatorial election.
The declaration was made in the early hours of Monday amid growing tension in the state.
In the Final results announced by Returning Officer, Professor Ahmad Doko Ibrahim, Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes while the candidate of APC, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna polled 890,705 votes to come second.
As at the time of filling in this report, collation and final declaration of results are yet to be concluded in several states including,: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Delta, Borno, Cross River, Kano, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Rivers and Zamfara.
In Enugu State, although collation was concluded Sunday night, the commission suspended further action till Monday morning following complaints emanating from Nkanu East and Nsukka LGs’ results. The commission asked for written petitions, with which it would undertake a review of the contentious results.
