The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Yusuf Liman, the former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, as the victor of the Makera state Constituency bye-election. Liman, running under the All Progressives Congress, secured 18,068 votes, surpassing Solomon Katuka of the Peoples Democratic Party, who garnered 17,404 votes, and Usman Yakuti of the Labour Party, who managed to secure 3,709 votes.
The election took place in five polling units in the Makera constituency, namely Kakuri Hausa, Television, Kakuri Gwari, Barnawa 1 and 2.
In addition, Nura Abubakar of the PDP emerged as the winner of the Kudan State constituency election with 24,178 votes, defeating Abbas Faisal of the APC and Suleiman Umar of the Labour Party.
Furthermore, Hussein Jallo of the PDP emerged victorious in the Igabi Federal Constituency bye-election, receiving 47,313 votes against Zyyad Ibrahim of the APC, who garnered 43,915 votes.
Meanwhile, David Jesse of the APC won the Chikun state constituency with 18,566 votes, surpassing Maria Dogo and Solomon Adamu of the PDP and the Labour Party, respectively.
The results were announced by the returning officer, Prof. Isah Bayero of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Furthermore, it was observed that the bye-election experienced low voter turnout, instances of vote-buying, and cases of ballot box snatching.
Allegations of vote-buying were reported in several areas, with one PDP agent, Veronica Okuna, claiming that APC agents were offering between N10,000 and N15,000 per voter. She also expressed concerns about the impact of such practices on the nation’s democracy.
On the other hand, an APC agent, Aminu Yakubu, dismissed the allegations and suggested that the PDP might be engaging in similar tactics to gain an advantage.