Two major Nigerian political parties have finalized their candidates for an upcoming parliamentary by-election in Jigawa State’s Garki/Babura Federal Constituency, following the death of incumbent lawmaker Isa Dogon Yaro in May 2024. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) held parallel primary elections on Saturday, selecting Salisu Sabo and Rabiu Garki as their respective flagbearers ahead of the vote scheduled for August 16, 2025, by Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC.
The NNPP election, conducted at its local secretariat in Babura, saw Sabo secure victory with 114 delegate votes. Chief Returning Officer Muhammad Gako declared the process concluded after all participants cast ballots, describing the exercise as orderly. Sabo, in his acceptance speech, pledged collaboration with party members and constituents to address educational gaps and voter priorities. “I will work to enhance secondary education and urge citizens to evaluate candidates based on merit and their ability to deliver tangible solutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, the APC’s primary unfolded at the Duplex event center in Babura, where Rabiu Garki emerged victorious with 110 votes. Ismaila Gadaka, chairman of the APC’s election committee, affirmed the process was “peaceful, free, and fair,” reflecting the party’s commitment to transparency. Garki expressed gratitude to Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi and party stakeholders for their support, vowing to focus on youth-centric policies. “Creating jobs and opportunities for young people will be my priority to uplift livelihoods in our constituency,” he stated.
The August 2025 by-election will fill the vacancy left by Yaro, who represented the constituency until his death. While INEC’s timeline allows over a year for campaigning, the contests highlight ongoing political mobilization in northern Nigeria, where education and employment remain critical voter concerns. Both parties emphasized grassroots engagement, with the APC and NNPP positioning their candidates as advocates for local development ahead of the nationally observed vote.
