The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a landslide victory in the Zuru State Constituency by-election as its candidate, Rabiu Garba Aiki, overwhelmingly defeated his Labour Party (LP) opponent to clinch a seat in the Kebbi State House of Assembly.
Declaring the result at the collation centre, the Collation Officer, Professor Muhammad Bashar Danladi of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, announced that Rabiu Garba Aiki polled 4,871 votes to emerge winner of the election.
His closest challenger, Aliyu Galadima Muhammad of the Labour Party, garnered only 168 votes.
Professor Danladi said the constituency has a total of 109,385 registered voters, while 5,156 voters were accredited to participate in the by-election.
According to him, 5,055 valid votes and 95 rejected votes were recorded during the exercise.
The APC candidate maintained a commanding lead across all the 10 wards in the constituency, leaving little room for upset as results trickled in from the polling units.
In Tadurga Ward, Rabiu Garba Aiki secured 226 votes against LP’s 10 votes, while in Isgogo-Dago Ward, he polled 116 votes compared to one vote recorded by the Labour Party.
The APC candidate also dominated Rumu-Dabai-Seme Ward with 446 votes against LP’s six votes and won Rikoto Ward with 475 votes, while the Labour Party scored 14 votes.
At Zodi Ward, APC polled 257 votes against LP’s 14 votes, while in Bedi Ward, Rabiu Garba Aiki secured 830 votes as the Labour Party garnered 34 votes.
The APC further extended its dominance in Senchi Ward with 659 votes against 16 votes for LP and recorded its highest tally in Rafin Zuru Ward where it secured 1,042 votes, while the Labour Party polled 63 votes.
In Chiroman Dabai Ward, APC scored 199 votes against LP’s one vote, while Manga-Ushe Ward returned 637 votes for APC and nine votes for the Labour Party.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of the late Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Zuru.
Despite the generally low voter turnout recorded across the constituency, the APC maintained a clear lead throughout the collation process, eventually cruising to victory with a wide margin.
