APC retains Kebbi Assembly seat as Aiki wins Zuru bye-election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained the Zuru State Constituency seat in the Kebbi State House of Assembly following the victory of its candidate, Rabiu Garba Aiki, in Saturday’s bye-election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Aiki winner of the poll after the conclusion of collation at the Zuru collation centre.

Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Professor Muhammad Bashar Danladi of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, said the APC candidate scored 4,871 votes to defeat Aliyu Galadima Muhammad of the Labour Party (LP), who polled 168 votes.

Danladi disclosed that 109,385 voters were registered in the constituency, while 5,156 were accredited to participate in the exercise. He added that 5,055 valid votes were recorded, with 95 ballots declared invalid.

The bye-election was held to fill the vacancy created by the death of the former Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly and member representing Zuru State Constituency, Mohammed Usman Zuru.

Although the election was conducted peacefully, turnout remained low in many polling units across the constituency, with the APC maintaining a comfortable lead from the early stages of collation.

Aiki’s victory ensures that the ruling party retains control of the Zuru State Constituency seat in the state legislature.