The All Progressives Congress, APC, has reclaimed the Nasarawa North Senatorial District seat after its candidate, Halilu Dangadi Envwulanza, was declared winner of Saturday’s by-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Returning Officer, Professor Aminu Ali, announced the final results at the Collation Centre, College of Education, Akwanga, following the collation of votes from Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon and Wamba Local Government Areas.
Envwulanza polled 45,362 votes, defeating Labour Party’s Maku Labaran who scored 12,931 votes. Peoples Democratic Party’s Emmanuel David Ombugadu came third with 11,570 votes. ADC candidate Alaku Mohammed Steve got 1,496 votes, while NNPP’s John Wall Araneshiri polled 102 votes.
“Halilu Dangadi Envwulanza of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared a winner and is returned elected,” Prof. Ali declared.
The by-election was conducted on June 20, 2026, to fill the vacancy created by the death of two-term Senator Godiya Akwashiki in December 2025.
Envwulanza, a former Secretary of the National Judicial Council and an indigene of Nasarawa Eggon, contested the same seat in 2023 but lost to the late Akwashiki. Speaking after casting his ballot, he described voter turnout as “very encouraging” and said he had campaigned in all 35 wards of the district.
The exercise was, however, trailed by protests from the Labour Party. Led by Dr. Ben Ango, LP agents staged a walkout at the collation centre in Akwanga shortly after results from the three LGAs were compiled.
Although Dr. Ango declined to speak with journalists, party officials at the venue faulted the collation process. LP candidate Maku Labaran had earlier complained of BVAS glitches and ballot irregularities in some polling units.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, who voted in Gudi, Akwanga LGA, lauded INEC for the smooth conduct of the poll, saying it gave the people of Nasarawa North an opportunity to “say thank you to the APC”.
Envwulanza will now proceed to the National Assembly to complete the remainder of Akwashiki’s tenure.
INEC described the collation as “orderly and transparent” despite minor technical hitches with BVAS machines that were quickly resolved.
