APM Sweeps Bauchi LG Elections, Wins All 20 Chairmanship Seats
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Osirike Susanna Obigaeli
BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE — The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has recorded a landslide victory in the Bauchi State local government elections, winning all 20 chairmanship seats contested across the state.
The election, held on Monday, August 17, 2026, was conducted across the state amid a boycott by several opposition political parties, which alleged that the electoral process was designed to favour the ruling party.
The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) announced the results late on Monday night following the conclusion of voting and collation across the 20 local government areas.
According to the results declared by the electoral commission, all 20 APM candidates secured the highest number of valid votes in their respective local government areas and were subsequently declared elected.
The ruling party also dominated the councillorship elections, winning 319 of the 323 available ward seats.
The remaining four councillorship positions were shared among the Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP), with each party securing one seat.
BASIEC Chairperson, Jummai Abubakar, who announced the results, said the commission conducted the election independently and in accordance with the relevant electoral laws.
She confirmed the declaration of the APM candidates as duly elected, stating that each candidate obtained the highest valid votes recorded in the respective local government area.
The election was generally reported as peaceful, with voters turning out to participate in the exercise across the state.
However, the poll was overshadowed by the decision of several opposition parties to withdraw from the contest. The parties raised concerns over the credibility and fairness of the process, alleging that the electoral arrangement was tilted in favour of the ruling APM.
The opposition boycott meant that the APM faced limited competition in several areas, contributing to its sweeping performance in both the chairmanship and councillorship contests.
Governor Bala Mohammed, while reacting to the exercise, described the election as peaceful and maintained that the withdrawal of some political parties did not invalidate the process.
The governor's position contrasts with concerns raised by opposition groups, who have questioned the circumstances surrounding their participation and subsequent withdrawal from the elections.
The outcome gives the APM control of all 20 local government councils in Bauchi State and a dominant position in the legislative arms of the councils, with the party holding 319 of the 323 councillorship seats.
Local government elections are particularly significant in Nigeria because elected council chairpersons and councillors are responsible for grassroots administration and the implementation of programmes and services at the local level.
The sweeping victory is therefore expected to strengthen the APM's political control across Bauchi State and could have implications for grassroots mobilisation and political organisation ahead of future elections.
The controversy surrounding the boycott, however, is likely to keep attention focused on the conduct and credibility of the state's local government electoral system.
With the results now declared, the immediate focus will shift to the inauguration of the newly elected council officials and the administration of the 20 local government areas under the APM.
