By: TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mathew Dogara Daje, as the winner of the bye-election conducted in Munya Constituency on Saturday, August 16.
Daje won the election with a margin of over 6,000 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon. Sabo Sunday Adabyinlo.
The bye-election, conducted to fill the vacant seat in the Niger State House of Assembly following the death of Hon. Joseph Haruna Duza of the PDP, was largely peaceful.
High voter turnout was recorded in some polling units, while others witnessed low participation.
Accreditation and voting commenced promptly at 8:30 a.m. in most locations, with voters arriving early to exercise their civic rights.
Voting officially closed at 3:30 p.m., though INEC officials ensured that all voters already in the queue at the time were allowed to cast their ballots in line with electoral guidelines.
Security was visibly tight across Munya, as armed personnel were stationed at all polling units, with some units having more than 30 uniformed officers.
The state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, had earlier assured residents of adequate security for the election.
Despite the heavy security presence, the atmosphere remained calm, with voters patiently queuing to cast their votes.
Three political parties—the APC, PDP, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC)—participated in the election.
Vote counting began immediately after polls closed, with results showing APC maintaining a strong lead across several polling units.
While observers and residents commended the peaceful nature of the poll, political tensions lingered.
The PDP candidate, Hon. Sabo Sunday Adabyinlo, alleged that state resources were used to influence the election in favour of the APC, accusing the ruling party of vote buying and intimidation.
In his acceptance remarks, APC’s Mathew Dogara Daje expressed gratitude to Governor Umaru Bago and APC supporters across Munya Local Government for their backing during the election.
Residents and observers alike praised the conduct of the election, expressing hope that it would serve as a model for future polls in Niger State.
