By | Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded victories in the Kogi State 2026 Local Government Council elections in Upake Ward of Ajaokuta Local Government Area, with Hon. Haruna Muhammed Ganaja emerging as the winning chairmanship candidate and Hon. Simon Ado Adubazi declared elected councillor for the ward.
The victories followed a massive voter turnout in Upake on Saturday, October 17, as residents joined thousands of other voters across Kogi State to elect chairmen and councillors in the 21 local government areas and 239 electoral wards.
Hon. Moses Sanni Aguva (MSA), the APC candidate for Ajaokuta North State Constituency, was reported to have played a leading role in mobilising voters in Upake to participate in the electoral process.
Announcing the results, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) official overseeing the exercise in Upake Ward James Ogah said the election had been successfully concluded, with the APC recording the highest number of votes.
According to the returning officer, a total of 200 voters were accredited, while 200 votes were recorded at the end of the exercise.
The APC polled 196 votes, while the Labour Party and the African Democratic Party (ADP) recorded one vote each. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) recorded no votes, while two ballots were declared invalid.
Based on the results announced, the returning officer James Ogah declared Hon. Haruna Muhammed Ganaja the winner of the chairmanship contest and Hon. Simon Ado Adubazi the elected councillor representing Upake Ward, both on the platform of the APC.
The announcement marked the conclusion of the voting and result-declaration process in Upake Ward, amid reports that the exercise was conducted peacefully.
The outcome represents a significant political victory for the APC in the ward and underscores the importance of grassroots mobilisation and voter participation in local government elections.
The Kogi State local government elections were conducted across the state’s 21 local government areas and 239 electoral wards to elect council chairmen and councillors.
