2019 Niger State gubernatorial election

The 2019 Niger State gubernatorial election occurred on March 9, 2019, in Nigeria. The APC nominee Abubakar Sani Bello won the election, defeating Umar Nasko of the PDP.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2019 Niger State gubernatorial election

← 2015 March 9, 2019 2023 →

Nominee Abubakar Sani Bello Umar Nasko Party APC PDP Running mate Ahmed Muhammad Ketso Mohammed Ndayako Popular vote 526,412 298,065

Governor before election Abubakar Sani Bello APC Elected Governor Abubakar Sani Bello APC

Abubakar Sani Bello emerged APC gubernatorial candidate after he was returned as the sole candidate. He retained his deputy Ahmed Muhammad Ketso as his running mate.^{[6][7][8][9][10]} Umar Nasko was the PDP candidate with Mohammed Ndayako as his running mate.^{[11][12][13][14][15]} 31 candidates contested in the election.^[16]

Electoral system

The Governor of Nasarawa is elected using the plurality voting system.

Primary election

APC primary

The APC primary election was held on September 30, 2018.^{[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]} Abubakar Sani Bello won the primary election after he was returned as the sole candidate.^{[40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68]} He picked his deputy Ahmed Muhammad Ketso as his running mate.^{[69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105]}

PDP primary

The PDP primary election was held on September 30, 2018.^{[106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114]} Umar Nasko won the primary election polling 1,972 votes against 4 other candidates. His closest rival was Ahmed Musa Ibeto, a former envoy to South Africa, who came second with 516 votes, Mu'azu Hannafi Sudan came third with 157 votes.^{[115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127]}

Candidates

• Party nominee: Umar Nasko: former commissioner
• Running mate: Mohammed Ndayako: former member State House of Assembly
• Ahmed Musa Ibeto
• Mu'azu Hannafi Sudan
• Umar Ahmed

Results

A total number of 31 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.^[16]

The total number of registered voters in the state was 2,377,034, while 925,518 voters were accredited. Total number of votes cast was 920,480, while number of valid votes was 900,871. Rejected votes were 19,609.^{[128][129][130][131][132]}

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Abubakar Sani Bello	All Progressives Congress	526,412	58.43
	Umar Nasko	People's Democratic Party	298,065	33.09
	Other candidates		76,394	8.48
Total			900,871	100.00
Valid votes			900,871	97.87
Invalid/blank votes			19,609	2.13
Total votes			920,480	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,377,034	38.72
Source: Ripples Nigeria

By local government area

Here are the results of the election by local government area for the two major parties. The total valid votes of 900,871 represents the 31 political parties that participated in the election. Blue represents LGAs won by Abubakar Sani Bello. Green represents LGAs won by Umar Nasko.^{[133][134][135][136][137]}

LGA	Abubakar Sani Bello APC		Umar Nasko PDP		Total Votes
	#	%	#	%	#
Gurara	14,649		7,798
Munya	14,879		8,458
Tafa	13,111		8,608
Suleja	19,105		14,975
Katcha	20,171		9,800
Bosso	19,610		11,470
Paikoro	21,571		13,600
Wushishi	13,199		8,309
Lavun	27,345		15,335
Rijau	22,111		9,566
Edati	19,200		10,200
Rafi	28,289		13,372
Chanchaga	27,764		21,179
Gbako	24,836		10,623
Agaie	19,295		16,903
Mashegu	18,102		10,988
Mariga	17,890		13,433
Borgu	25,211		7,206
Magama	20,540		17,633
Bida	21,493		11,212
Agwara	11,236		5,365
Lapai	24,724		10,599
Shiroro	28,285		16,438
Mokwa	26,679		13,155
Kontagora	27,117		11,888
Totals	526,412		298,065		900,871