June 23 (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented Certificates of Return to winners of the June 20, 2026, bye-elections conducted across Rivers, Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo and Kano states.
The presentation followed the announcement of results from the June 20 bye-elections, which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) record a dominant performance across several states, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained a key senatorial seat in Rivers State.
Among the winners was APC candidate Ikeje Asogwa, who emerged victorious in the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election. In Kebbi State, Rabiu Garba Aiki of the APC won the Zuru State Constituency bye-election into the State House of Assembly, while Rabiu Shuaibu secured victory for the ruling party in the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency bye-election in Kano State. The APC also won the Ondo South Senatorial District bye-election through Dayo Faduyile and captured the Nasarawa North Senatorial seat, where its candidate, Danladi Envulu-Anza, polled 45,362 votes to emerge victorious.
In Rivers State, however, the PDP successfully retained the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat, with Olaka Nwogu declared winner by INEC.
In the Ekiti State governorship election, Governor Biodun Oyebanji secured a second term in office, making history as the first governor since the return to democratic rule in 1999 to win back-to-back re-election in the state.
The certificates were presented on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, on Tuesday by the Supervising National Commissioner for Rivers State, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, during a ceremony attended by National Commissioners and elected candidates.
Agbamuche-Mbu urged the newly elected lawmakers to provide effective representation and remain committed to addressing the needs and aspirations of their constituents.
“The most important responsibility is to represent the people well”, she stated.
The National Commissioner also disclosed that Certificates of Return would be presented to winners of the Zuru State Constituency election in Kebbi State and the Ekiti State governorship election, where the electoral process had similarly been concluded.
National Commissioners representing the affected constituencies took turns presenting the certificates to the successful candidates, officially affirming their victories and clearing the way for them to assume office.
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