The All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded a sweeping victory in the recently concluded by-elections held on Saturday across 16 constituencies in 13 different states of the federation, consolidating its dominance in the Nigerian political space. The elections, which attracted wide attention as a litmus test for both ruling and opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, saw the APC win the majority of seats, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite high expectations, failed to secure a single seat.
Official reports available as at press time confirmed that the APC clinched 12 of the contested seats, reaffirming its strong grassroots presence and national spread. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured two seats, reflecting its regional strength in the South-East, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) managed to win one seat each, showing a mixed performance by the opposition camp.
The vacant legislative positions, including the Ibadan North Federal Constituency in Oyo State, the Onitsha North 1 seat in Anambra, the Anambra South Senatorial District, and the Bagwai/Shanono Constituency in Kano State, were filled by victorious candidates of the PDP, APGA, and NNPP respectively. These victories, although few, highlighted the continued presence of the opposition in certain strongholds.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which had boldly presented candidates across different states as part of its first major electoral participation since opposition figures formally adopted the platform to unseat the APC in 2027, recorded no wins. The poor outing has raised questions regarding its organizational structure, campaign strategies, and ability to mobilize grassroots support in the face of APC’s entrenched dominance.
In total, the by-elections featured 637 candidates fielded by 17 political parties who contested for 68 available seats at various legislative levels. Analysts described the outcome as a clear signal of the APC’s continued control over the political landscape, even as the opposition works to strengthen alliances and strategies before the next general elections. The results also underscored the importance of regional dynamics and party structures in shaping Nigeria’s democratic outcomes.
Observers and political commentators have interpreted the results as a reflection of voter confidence in APC’s governance at both national and state levels, though they also stressed that opposition parties still maintain significant influence in localized areas. The electoral exercise, widely monitored, was also commended by civil society groups and international observers as largely peaceful, transparent, and reflective of the will of the people.
With the by-elections concluded, attention now shifts to the broader political realignments and strategies that parties will deploy in the buildup to 2027. For the APC, the victories reinforce its grip on power, while for the ADC, PDP, APGA, and NNPP, the results serve as a wake-up call to intensify grassroots mobilization if they aim to challenge APC’s dominance in the years ahead.