THE All Progressives Congress, APC, swept Lagos, Oyo and Ondo and was leading in Yobe as results of the re-run and bye-elections to fill 57 legislative vacancies across 26 states in the country, trickled in, yesterday.

However, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, won the Yenagoa Constituency II re-run election in Bayelsa State.

The polls were marred by apathy, irregularities and violence in some areas.

Although the elections were peaceful and witnessed impressive voter turnout in some states, allegations of missing election materials, invasion by thugs, attacks on electoral officers, and pre-filled election result sheets were rife.

The hitches forced the Independent National Electoral Commission. INEC, to suspend elections in 20 polling units in three states.

Indeed, the security agencies arrested many thugs who tried to disrupt polling in Plateau, Kano and other states.

In Akwa Ibom, the late commencement of voting and hijacking of election materials by hoodlums marred the exercise. The polls were held in 33 polling units in Ini/Ikono Federal Constituency, and 20 polling units in Ibiono Ibom State Constituency.

In Ebonyi, APC and PDP disagreed over the credibility of the exercise. While the PDP alleged massive vote-buying and ballot-snatching during the Ebonyi South bye-election, APC thumped up the process, saying it was free and fair.

This was as attacks by bandits, and crop-looting overshadowed balloting in Katsina State.

The APC won the Surulere Federal Constituency I (Lagos), Saki West State Constituency (Oyo), and Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency (Ondo) seats.

In Lagos, INEC declared Mr. Fuad Laguda of the APC as the winner of Surulere Federal Constituency I bye-election held in six wards.

The Returning officer of the election, Prof. Ladipo Adebayo of the University of Lagos, said Laguda scored 11, 203 votes to defeat Mr. Jerry Afemighie of the PDP, who polled 278 votes.

Labour Party candidate, Adeola Adebanjo, got 240 votes.

Total votes cast was 11, 900 while 138 ballots were rejected.

In Oyo, Mr Shittu Ibrahim of the APC won the Saki West State Constituency poll after polling 13,850 votes to narrowly beat Mr. Julius Okedoyin of the PDP, who got 13,670 votes.

In Ondo, Ife Ehindero of the APC scored 35,504 votes to claim the Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency seat. His PDP challenger, Olalekan Bada, polled 15,328 votes.

For the Yobe East Senatorial bye-election, Mr. Musa Mustapha of the APC was leading his main challenger, Mallam Ajiko in results released as of press time by INEC.

However, Mr Amakoromo Waikumo of the APGA emerged as the winner of the Yenagoa Constituency II re-run election.

He polled 5959 votes to narrowly beat his closest rival, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai of the PDP who garnered 5263 votes.

END.