News
Guber Polls: APC Wins In 14 States, PDP In Five
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Governor of Ogun, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, winner of the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Duro Oni, who is the state returning officer for the election, made the declaration yesterday in Abeokuta.
Amosun, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), beat Mr Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the second position.
According to the returning officer, Amosun won in 11 out of the 20 local government areas in the state.
He said that the governor polled a total of 306,988 votes of the total 578, 378 votes cast in the election in which 16 political parties contested., Isiaku scored 201,440 while the SDP candidate got 25,825.
Oni explained that 599, 486 voters were accredited out of the total 1,759,754 registered voters in the state, adding that 22, 948 votes were voided out of the total 578,378 votes cast.
The returning officer said that elections were cancelled for various reasons in nine polling centres at Odeda, Sagamu and Ogun, all waterside local governments areas of the state.
Oni, however, said that the 2,343 votes from the centres where the elections were cancelled did not affect the result of the election.
In Gombe, Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State was re-elected as governor of the state.
Dankwanbo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 285,369 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 205,132 votes.
Announcing the result in Gombe yesterday, the Returning Officer for the state, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, said that the governor won the polls in 10 local government areas out of the 11 in the state.
He said that the APC candidate won in one local government area, adding that African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Alhaji Jafar Abubakar, came third with 848 votes.
The returning officer consequently declared Dankwambo, with the highest votes cast, winner of the election.
He said out of the 1.1 million registered voters in the state, 535,508 were accredited while 506,768 votes were cast during the polls.
In Adamawa, half way into the collation of the Governorship election results, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has conceded defeat.
Ribadu in a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam AbdulAziz Ahmad, said he had accepted the outcome of the election in good faith.
“I came into this race with lofty dreams and clear vision for our dear state, but the voice of the majority has not given me this chance. I take this in good faith.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the winner and pray that at the end of it all our dear state will witness the needed progress and development it so much desires”, Ribadu said.
Ribadu lauded the support he got from President Goodluck Jonathan, party leaders and the people of Adamawa in general.
Ribadu concession statement was made shortly after the announcement of the result of 12 out of the 21 Local Government Areas of Adamawa by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The collation of the results for the remaining nine Local government areas continue.
In Kaduna, Malam Nasir El-Rufai of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has won the governorship election.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, defeated 14 other candidates, including Governor Mukhtar Yero who contested on the platform of the PDP.
The Returning Officer for the state, Prof. Jafar Kaura, said El-Rufai emerged victorious with 1, 117, 635 votes to defeat his closest rival, Yero of the PDP, who secured 485, 833 votes.
Kura said a total of 1, 710, 935 people were accredited for the election of which 1, 660, 109 voted.
According to him, 27, 116 votes were rejected while 65, 386 votes from 112 pulling units in 16 local government areas were cancelled due to various electoral offences.
The state has a total of 3, 357, 469 registered voters.
In reaction, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State yesterday congratulated Malam Nasiru El-Rufai for winning the April 11 governorship election in the state.
Yero, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, called El-Rufai on phone at about 3:00p.m to concede defeat and congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for winning the election.
Mr Samuel Aruwan, Media Officer of the state APC Campaign Council, who stated this in Kaduna, said El-Rufai thanked the governor for his magnanimity in defeat.
“He congratulated El-Rufai and wish him success, he prayed for peace and development of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
“El-Rufai in his response thanked Yero and wished him all the best and hope to see him soon,” Aruwan said.
The collation of the results was still going on with just one local government out of the 23 remaining as at 4:50 p.m.
In Katsina, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari, has won the governorship election in Katsina State under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Returning Officer, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, said on Sunday that Masari polled 943,085 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Musa Nashuni, who scored 476,768 votes in the Saturday’s elections.
Bilbis said that PDM candidate, Sen. Yakubu Lado, got 50,361 votes, while Alhaji Umar Abdullahi of APGA secured 42,302 votes.
According to the retuning officer, seven political parties took part in the election.
“Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest the number of votes, Aminu Bello Masari of APC is declared the winner and returned elected,’’ Bilbis said.
He said that the election was free, fair and conducted in accordance with the law.
Also in Bauchi, the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi State, Barr.Mohammed Abubakar, had been declared winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Announcing the result of the election yesterday in Bauchi, the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Faruk, said Abubakar polled 654,934 votes, to defeat nine other contestants.
His closest opponent, Mr Mohammed Jatau of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), secured 282,650 votes.
Declaring Abubakar as the winner, Prof. Faruk said that the APC candidate had satisfied Section 179(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, having garnered highest number of total votes cast, and also secured the minimum number of votes required in each of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
With official announcement of the result, the state now has Barr. Mohammed Abubakar as the governor-elect, with Engr. Nuhu Gidado , as his deputy.
In Oyo, the incumbent Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, made history by becoming the first governor of the state to win a second term in office.
Ajimobi swept over 20 out of the 33 local government areas in the state.
Accord Party’s Senator Rasheed Ladoja trailed behind while Adebayo Alao-Akala of the Labour Party stayed in the third position. Both are former governors of the state.
The final results announced by INEC, yesterday, show that Ajimobi of APC pooled 327,310, Ladoja of Accord scored 254,520, while Taiwo Otegbeye of Action Alliance (AA) garnered 1,397.
Also, Alao-Akala of LP polled 184,111, Teslim Kolawole Folarin of PDP got 79,019 while
Seyi Makinde of SDP scored 54,740.
In Enugu, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi proved political watchers right by rushing aside all challengers to win the governorship election in the state.
Ugwuanyi beat his closest rival with 482,277 while the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okey Ezea, lost with 43,839 votes.
In Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) thrashed his closest rival, Umana Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to emerge as the new governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Results of Saturday’s governorship election show that Udom beat Umana with 99,071 votes against 89,865 as announced in Uyo, the state capital by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The results were released at the state INEC headquarters on Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, under the watchful eyes of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Austin Eni Okojie and other top officials of the commission, as well as party representatives and some journalists, shows that the closest rival party, the APC, won in only one LGA, Orue-Offong Oruko.
In Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal of APC beat Abdallah Wali of PDP with 6647,609 votes to 269,074 votes to emerge winner.
In Ebonyi, Dave Umahi of the PDP beat his closest rival Edward Nkwegu of the Labour Party with 289,867 votes to 124,817 votes to win the governorship election in the state.
In Lagos, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, beat his arch-rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to become the next governor of Lagos.
The APC candidate polled 811,994 votes while the PDP candidate scored 659,788 votes.
Ambode’s victory has served to douse ethnic tension in the country’s former capital, with some creative minds coming up with a photo of Igbos in the lagoon being implored by their Yoruba friends to come out and resume their business activities as the worst is over.
Tension had flared between both ethnic groups when Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, threatened that Igbos would drown in the lagoon if they sabotaged efforts to install Ambode.
In Taraba, Senator Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan made history by becoming the first Nigerian woman to be elected a state governor.
Al-Hassan, the first female governorship candidate from the entire northern part of the country, won Saturday’s election. She ran on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
She was elected Senator for the Taraba North constituency of Taraba State in the April 2011 elections. She ran on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) platform but later defected to APC.
INEC officially announced her winner, beating Darius Ishaku of PDP to emerge victorious.
The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.
The awards were presented yesterday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.
Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.
In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.
While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.
He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.
To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.
In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities.
According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, Ahmad said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.
She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.
These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.
The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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?Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
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?Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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This was contained in a statement from the office of the Deputy Governor, signed by the Head of Press, ?Owupele Benebo.
?According to Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace.
He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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?The governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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?In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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?He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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?Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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?In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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?He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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?These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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