The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) strengthened its grip on Anambra politics at the weekend, securing victories in the bye-elections conducted in the state, even as the exercise failed to hold for the fourth time in Enugu.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu winner of the Anambra South Senatorial bye-election. Returning Officer for Nnewi, Frank Ojiako, announced that Nwachukwu polled 90,408 votes to defeat Azuka Okwuosa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 19,847 votes, while Donald Amangbo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) recorded 2,889 votes.

Similarly, in the Onitsha North I State Constituency election, Ifeoma Mini Azikiwe of APGA emerged victorious.

According to INEC’s Returning Officer, Professor Ibiam Ekpe of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Azikiwe garnered 7,774 votes to defeat Justina Azuka of the ADC, who scored 1,909. The APC candidate, Ezennia Chuka Ojekwe, and YPP’s Njideka Ndiwe polled 1,371 and 655 votes, respectively.

Azikiwe will serve out the remaining two years of the late Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped in December 2024 and later found dead near the 2nd Niger Bridge in February 2025.

Meanwhile, in Enugu State, the bye-election for Enugu South Urban Constituency was stalled again amid tensions, marking the fourth failed attempt to conclude the exercise. The election, ordered after the 2023 poll was nullified in eight polling units, has faced repeated disruptions since February 2024.

The contest has pitted Labour Party’s Bright Ngene—currently in prison over a community-related case—against PDP’s Sam Ngene, a former Assembly member.

Sam Ngene accused APC leaders of frustrating the process, alleging that the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, disrupted Saturday’s exercise. “He came in here with hoodlums, intimidating people and ensuring the election did not hold,” Ngene claimed.

But Nnaji, who identified himself as APC’s polling unit agent, dismissed the allegations. “I don’t carry hoodlums. I carry policemen, army, and DSS—people mandated by law to protect lives and property,” he said.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, appealed for calm and urged stakeholders to allow the election to proceed. “I honestly do not know why this place is even this crowded. Let us not create problems in this election,” he said.