APM wins all 20 chairmanship seats in Bauchi as opposition parties boycott poll
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has won all 20 chairmanship seats in the local government elections held across Bauchi state on Monday.
Announcing the results, Jummai Abubakar, chairperson of the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), said the party also clinched 319 of the 323 councillorship seats in the state.
“Following the conclusion of voting, counting, collation and verification, I, Jummai Abubakar, Chairperson of BASIEC, hereby declare that all 20 APM candidates emerged victorious as Chairmen of the respective Local Government Areas,” Abubakar said.
She added that Zakka Luka, the APM candidate, emerged winner in Bogoro LGA with 25,282 votes, while Iliya Isah, his counterpart in Dambam LGA, polled 19,730 votes.
Bappah Aliyu, another APM candidate, won in Alkaleri LGA with 107,482 votes, while Umar Mohammed swept Bauchi LGA with 125,170 votes. Mohammed Jibo had 35,264 votes to win Dass LGA.
Other winners included Yusuf Babayo Zaki in Katagum with 65,626 votes; Garba Musa in Kirfi with 24,787 votes; Salisu Hussaini in Misau with 34,378 votes; and Yahuza Adamu Haruna in Ningi with 29,387 votes, among others.
Ali Babayo also won in Gamawa LGA with 54,423 votes; Mohammed Idris in Ganjuwa with 24,150 votes; Mustapha Musa in Giade with 33,864 votes; Dankawuwa Ya’u in Itas/Gadau with 24,989 votes; and Inuwa Abdullahi in Jama’are with 36,766 votes.
The commission declared the candidates duly elected, having satisfied the applicable legal requirements, and securing the highest number of valid votes in their respective constituencies.
‘THEY SHOULD HAVE TESTED THEIR POPULARITY’
Speaking after casting his ballot alongside his wife at his polling unit in Dan Kungibar, Alkaleri LGA, Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, faulted the opposition for boycotting the election, describing the action as an act of cowardice.
“I can see some people are cowards. They have even checked out of the election because they knew they would lose,” the governor said.
They have not campaigned. If they had listened to my advice, they should have gone ahead to test their popularity.”
The governor described the election as very peaceful while emphasising the importance of local government elections to the development of the state.
“The place is very peaceful, and you can see the atmosphere of serenity this morning. We appreciate God for our peace and the spirit of love that is here in this polling area,” Mohammed said.
“The local government is where everything is done because the majority of what people live on is in the local government, not in the state capital.
That is why we are trying very, very much to ensure good governance in the local government.”
Bala Mohammed left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APM in May 2026.