Danladi Halilu-EnvuluAnza, a former Secretary of the National Judiciary Council (NJC) and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared winner of the June 20, 2026 Nasarawa North Senatorial By-Election. The election was conducted to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented the district in the Nigerian Senate.
Victory margin and runner-up
Professor Aminu Ali, the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the result at the College of Education in Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa state on Sunday, June 21. He described the election as free, fair, and credible. Halilu-EnvuluAnza secured victory after scoring 45,362 votes, defeating his closest rival, former Minister of Information Labaran Maku of the Labour Party (LP), who polled 12,931 votes. Peoples Democratic Party's Emmanuel David Ombugadu came third with 11,570 votes, while ADC candidate Alaku Mohammed Steve got 1,496 votes and NNPP's John Wall Araneshiri polled 102 votes.
Returning officer's declaration
“Halilu Dangadi Envwulanza of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared a winner and is returned elected,” Prof. Ali stated. The by-election was conducted on June 20, 2026, to fill the vacancy created by the death of two-term Senator Godiya Akwashiki in December 2025.
Background and voter turnout
Envwulanza, an indigene of Nasarawa Eggon, contested the same seat in 2023 but lost to the late Akwashiki. Speaking after casting his ballot, he described voter turnout as “very encouraging” and said he had campaigned in all 35 wards of the district. However, the exercise was trailed by protests from the Labour Party. Led by Dr. Ben Ango, LP agents staged a walkout at the collation centre in Akwanga shortly after results from the three local government areas were compiled. Although Dr. Ango declined to speak with journalists, party officials at the venue faulted the collation process. LP candidate Maku Labaran had earlier complained of BVAS glitches and ballot irregularities in some polling units.
Governor's reaction and next steps
Governor Abdullahi Sule, who voted in Gudi, Akwanga LGA, lauded INEC for the smooth conduct of the poll, saying it gave the people of Nasarawa North an opportunity to “say thank you to the APC”. Envwulanza will now proceed to the National Assembly to complete the remainder of Akwashiki’s tenure. INEC described the collation as “orderly and transparent” despite minor technical hitches with BVAS machines that were quickly resolved.
