Igbinedion reclaims Ovia seat in Edo as APGA wins Anambra by-election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Omosede Igbinedion of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of Saturday’s Ovia Federal Constituency by-election in Edo State.

The seat became vacant in September 2024 after Dennis Idahosa, who previously represented the constituency in the House of Representatives, was sworn in as deputy governor.

Declaring the results, the Returning Officer, Prof. Clement Ighodalo, revealed that Igbinedion secured 77,053 votes to emerge victorious. Her closest challenger, Johnny Aikpitanyi of the Peoples Democratic Party, garnered 3,838 votes, while Sandra Asemota of the Action Democratic Congress trailed with 925 votes.

“This is the declaration. I, Professor Clement Ighodalo, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2025 Ovia Federal Constituency bye election, held on the 16th day of August, 2024.“That Omosede Igbinedion of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner of the election,” he said.

Igbinedion first entered the House of Representatives in 2011 but lost her re-election to Idahosa, who again defeated her in 2023. She defected from the PDP to the APC after Idahosa was picked as the APC’s governorship candidate, later assuming office as deputy governor — which paved the way for her return bid.

Meanwhile, in Anambra State, Ifeoma Azikiwe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) clinched victory in the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election.

INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Ibiam Ekpe, declared Azikiwe winner with 7,774 votes, defeating Justice Azuka of the African Democratic Congress, who polled 1,909 votes. Ezennia Ojekwe of the APC and Njideka Ndiwe of the Young Progressives Party scored 1,371 and 655 votes respectively.

Commending the peaceful conduct of the poll, Ekpe said:“The candidate of APGA, Ifeoma Azikiwe, having certified the requirements of the law by scoring the highest in the election, is hereby returned elected.”

Azikiwe will complete the remaining two-year term of former lawmaker Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped and later killed.