By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday morning announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Abner Shittu as the winner of the Karim 1 State Constituency by-election for the Taraba State House of Assembly.
Shittu garnered 5,901 votes, narrowly defeating of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 5,527votes.
The Returning Officer, Dr. Mustapha Sa’ad, announced the results, stating that Shittu secured 5,901 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ali Kanda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 5,527 votes, Dr. Bandina Garba of ADC 2,069 votes while Abubakar Dauda of SDP, scored 106 votes.
The Returning Officer for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announce the result after results from all ten wards were collated.
The election was held on Saturday16th, August 2025, to fill the seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Mike Deo Jen to take the position of Commissioner for Tertiary Institutions.
The final result of the five wards of Karim 1 State constituency is as follows:
KARIM A
ADC – 902
APC – 1,325
PDP – 1,221
BIKWIN WARD
ADC – 28
APC- 503
PDP- 1,963
SDP – 1
JEN- ARDIDO
ADC – 11
APC – 1828
PDP – 630
SDP – 90
Jen Kaigama Ward
PDP – 1,201
APC – 1,747
ADC – 31
SDP- 01
Karim B Ward
APC – 492
PDP – 473
ADC – 803
SDP – 44
Total
APC : 5, 901
PDP: 5,527
ADC: 2,069,
SDP: 106.
Diffrence 374
Earlier before the election, INEC Distributes election materials to all polling units of the constituency.
The Taraba State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Alhaji Umar Muktar Gajiram, has confirmed the distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials ahead of the Karim I State Constituency bye-election, saying that the early distribution of materials was to ensure timely deployment and proper coordination, with a view to facilitating a smooth and credible electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner emphasized that both categories of materials are critical to the conduct of any election, and assured residents of Karim I that INEC is fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, and credible poll.
He also disclosed that the Commission has engaged its Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, comprising all security agencies, to ensure adequate security arrangements for the exercise.
According to him, all necessary logistics have been put in place, while security operatives are accompanying the materials as they are being transported from INEC headquarters in Jalingo to Karim Lamido Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, representatives of the major political parties in the election have endorsed the movement of the materials after inspecting them at the INEC office in Jalingo.
Those who signed the agreement include Mr. Steven Otaniya of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Hassan Adamu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Mr. Sadiq Nuhu Bulo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a related development, the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Enekpen Isokpan, has assured the people of Karim I that adequate security personnel would be deployed to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
CP Isokpan disclosed that the Command has mobilised additional mobile police units as well as marine police along waterways in the area to guarantee the safety of voters and electoral officials.
She urged residents of Karim I to come out en masse and exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.