The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has clinched all 20 chairmanship seats and 319 of the 323 councillorship positions contested in the Bauchi State local government elections.
This was announced on Monday night by the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) after the completion of voting, counting, collation and verification.
While declaring the results, BASIEC Chairman, Hajiya Jummai Abubakar, said all the successful candidates had satisfied the relevant legal requirements and obtained the highest number of valid votes in their respective constituencies.
The results showed that APM won the chairmanship election in all 20 local government areas, while four other political parties shared the remaining four councillorship seats.
Umar Mohammed Aliyu recorded the highest vote among the APM chairmanship candidates, polling 125,170 votes to win Bauchi Local Government Area.
He was followed by Abubakar Ibrahim Dembo, who secured 109,999 votes in Toro, and Bappah Aliyu Mohammed, who won Alkaleri with 107,482 votes.
Other notable results included Ya’u Samaila Sade’s victory in Darazo with 67,276 votes; Yusuf Babayo Zaki’s win in Katagum with 65,626 votes; Ali Babayo’s 54,423 votes in Gamawa; Sama’ila Wakili Lere’s 46,625 votes in Tafawa Balewa; and Habibu Idris Usman’s 43,066 votes in Warji.
In Shira, former Majority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Saleh Hodi Jibir, won with 37,135 votes.
The other APM chairmanship candidates declared winners were Zakka Luka Magaji in Bogoro with 25,282 votes; Iliya Isah in Dambam with 19,730; Mohammed Abubakar Jibo in Dass with 35,264; Mohammed Idris in Ganjuwa with 24,150; Mustapha Alhaji Musa in Giade with 33,864; Dankawuwa Ya’u in Itas/Gadau with 24,989; and Inuwa Abdullahi in Jama’are with 36,766 votes.
Garba Musa won Kirfi with 24,787 votes, Salisu Hussaini secured Misau with 34,378 votes, Yahuza Adamu Haruna emerged victorious in Ningi with 29,387 votes, while Mas’ud Aliyu won Zaki with 19,984 votes.
However, the Social Democratic Party won Dandango Ward in Bauchi LGA, the National Rescue Movement secured Darazo South Ward, the Zenith Labour Party won Wandi Ward in Dass LGA, while the Young Progressive Party emerged victorious in Zirami Ward in Giade LGA.
Abubakar said the commission conducted the election independently and in accordance with the law.
She commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his support to the commission and congratulated the people of the state and the newly elected chairmen and councillors on the conclusion of the elections.
Meanwhile, the election was conducted amid a boycott by a coalition of opposition political parties, which had rejected the electoral process less than 24 hours before polling commenced.
The coalition, comprising the African Democratic Congress, African Action Congress, Social Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party and New Nigeria Peoples Party, described the election as a “kangaroo election” allegedly designed to favour the ruling APM.
Speaking for the coalition at a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat in Bauchi on Sunday, ADC Spokesperson, Dr Ladan Salihu, said the parties had agreed to jointly boycott the exercise.
The coalition also alleged that the election was being conducted under the 2008 Bauchi State Electoral Law, which it said raised questions about the legal framework underpinning the exercise in light of the 2026 Electoral Act.
“This has produced a weak and questionable legal framework and legal foundation for the conduct of these elections,” the coalition said.
The opposition parties further criticised BASIEC over what they described as excessive nomination and administrative fees, saying the charges imposed additional financial burdens on candidates and political parties.
They also faulted the electoral timetable, arguing that the compressed schedule left parties with insufficient time to conduct primaries, screen candidates, resolve internal disputes and mount effective campaigns.
The coalition alleged that the overall electoral arrangement was designed to guarantee victory for APM.
“Everything is being predetermined to ensure that the ruling party gets a landslide and sweeping victory in the so-called elections,” the parties alleged.
The opposition also raised concerns that some political parties may have been approached or financially induced to participate in the election in order to create an appearance of wider political participation.
