APC’s Asogwa wins Enugu North senatorial by-election by wide margin

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Chief Ikeje Asogwa, the candidate of the APC, winner of the June 20, 2026 Enugu North Senatorial District by-election after he polled an overwhelming 162,360 votes.

Asogwa defeated his closest challenger, Chief Nestor Ezeme of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 9,299 votes in the keenly watched contest conducted across the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district.

The by-election was held to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Okey Ezea, who represented the district in the National Assembly until his passing on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62.

Announcing the results in Nsukka, the Returning Officer, Prof. Christian Ezeibe, Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said the APC candidate met all legal requirements and secured the highest number of valid votes cast.

“Chief Ikeje Asogwa, having satisfied the requirements of the law in this election, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Ezeibe announced.

He commended voters, political parties, security agencies and electoral officials for their conduct throughout the exercise, noting that their cooperation contributed significantly to the peaceful and successful conduct of the by-election.

“I thank you all for your cooperation, support and maturity that made the by-election a success,” he added.

According to the Returning Officer, the Enugu North Senatorial District has a total of 727,340 registered voters, while 184,094 voters were accredited to participate in the election.

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The results showed a dominant performance by the APC candidate, who won by a margin of more than 153,000 votes over his nearest rival.

Other candidates in the race recorded significantly lower figures. Chika Idoko Emmanuel of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 1,676 votes, while Kingsley Aneke of the Boot Party (BP) polled 1,607 votes.

Ejike Simon Eze of the Labour Party (LP) received 1,027 votes, OssElias Okwudiri Ossai of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) garnered 3,129 votes, while Charles Ugochukwu of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) obtained 667 votes.

Speaking shortly after being declared winner, Asogwa described the outcome as a reflection of the confidence and overwhelming support reposed in him by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District.

The senator-elect expressed gratitude to voters across the six local government areas in the zone for giving him a decisive mandate and pledged to deliver quality representation at the National Assembly.

He assured constituents that he would work diligently to justify their trust and ensure that the interests and developmental needs of the district receive adequate attention at the federal level.

“The result demonstrates the confidence the people have in our vision for the district. I will strive to provide quality and effective representation that will justify the massive support and trust expressed through the ballot,” Asogwa said.

The outcome represents a major political victory for the APC in Enugu State, traditionally regarded as a stronghold of opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Political analysts say the scale of Asogwa’s victory could reshape political calculations ahead of future elections in the South-East region.

The by-election also restored full representation for Enugu North Senatorial District in the Senate following the death of Senator Ezea, ensuring that the district’s interests continue to be represented in the National Assembly.