With 26 of the 28 Nigerian governorship results in, the All Progressive Congress (APC), which won the recent presidential election, has also won the
With 26 of the 28 Nigerian governorship results in, the All Progressive Congress (APC), which won the recent presidential election, has also won the most state races.
The party won in 15 states, taking its tally to 19 as it already controlled four other states.
The party came into the election controlling 21 states, meaning it lost two states.
One of those states was Kano won by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), formed just months before the polls.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won in nine states, taking their tally to 12. Before the election, it controlled 14 states.
The Labour Party of Peter Obi gained only its second governorship seat ever, sparking scenes of celebration in oil-rich Abia.
In all, six states have been flipped, including the north-west state of Zamfara, where an incumbent lost – the only one so far.
Both the APC and PDP will now have their eyes on Kebbi and Adamawa, where elections were declared inconclusive.
Nigeria has never had a female governor, but it could still happen. Aisha Binani of the APC is set to enter a rerun with the incumbent in Adamawa.
Voter turnout slightly improved to an average of 29% compared to 27% during the presidential polls.
Not all governorships were won by the parties which control state parliaments, potentially sparking more robust democratic scrutiny often missing in the past.
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