By-election: PDP defeats APC at defence minister’s polling unit

Badaru

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defeated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polling unit of Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, during a federal constituency by-election in Jigawa State.

At polling unit 001, located at Babura Kofar Arewa Primary School, the PDP secured 308 votes while the APC, to which the minister belongs, polled 112.

Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa and a senior APC figure, cast his vote under tight security but declined to speak to journalists afterwards.

The by-election in the Garki-Babura federal constituency was held on Saturday under heavy security presence. Personnel from the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Immigration Service and other agencies were deployed to polling stations and strategic locations across Babura and Garki local government areas.

Officials and observers said voting was peaceful. “The election went well without any issue,” said Ibrahim Shehu, the polling officer at Badaru’s unit.

At another polling centre, Primary Yamma (005), the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, praised the orderly conduct of the exercise and expressed confidence that the APC would eventually prevail in the wider contest.

Residents in some parts of the constituency continued with their normal activities as shops remained open, though election officials reported relatively high voter turnout across most polling units. Guardian