APC wins all 17 chairmanship seats in Yobe local elections

The All Progressives Congress won all 17 chairmanship seats contested in Saturday’s local government elections in Yobe State, according to the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission. The commission also declared APC candidates winners in 176 of the 178 councillorship seats contested across the state. The results were announced on Sunday after voting, counting, collation and verification had been completed.

Ibrahim Yabani, chairman of the Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission, said 10 political parties participated in the election. The parties fielded candidates for chairmanship positions in all 17 local government areas and for councillorship seats across 178 wards. Mr Yabani said the participation reflected what he described as keen competition in several local government areas.

The commission did not provide further details about turnout or the margins of victory. The Action Democratic Party and the All Peoples Party won councillor seats in Fune and Karasuwa local government areas, respectively, according to the commission’s announcement. Umar Jajere, chairman of the state’s Inter Party Advisory Committee, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.

He thanked the authorities for creating what he described as an environment that allowed political parties to operate without fear or favour. Certificates of return will be distributed to the winners at a later date before their swearing-in, according to the announcement.