Kano By-Elections: NNPP absent from ballot as voters elect lawmakers

By Khubayb Adefaka

KANO – Residents of Kano State on Saturday participated in by-elections to fill two vacant seats in the State House of Assembly, but the exercise was marked by the absence of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from the ballot in Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies.

The development surprised many voters who turned out at various polling units expecting to see the party listed among the contenders. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not immediately available to clarify the omission. However, sources suggested that the exclusion may be linked to ongoing internal legal disputes within the party’s leadership.

Despite concerns raised by the situation, the voting process was largely peaceful across the affected constituencies. Security personnel and electoral officers reported no major incidents as of the time of filing this report — a departure from previous elections in the state that were marred by unrest and disruptions.

Voter turnout appeared low in several polling units visited. Some residents attributed the reduced participation to the NNPP’s absence from the ballot, while others cited general voter apathy and political fatigue.

Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, Special Adviser on Social Media to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, attributed the calm atmosphere to the administration’s #KanoFirst agenda, which he said prioritises peace, security and community harmony. In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Hotoro maintained that proactive steps taken by the state government had reassured residents and encouraged them to exercise their civic rights without fear.

Political observers believe the NNPP’s absence could influence the outcome of the contest, potentially favouring candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), widely regarded as strong contenders in the race.

Efforts to reach Hashimu Dungurawa, a factional chairman of the NNPP, were unsuccessful, as calls to his known telephone line were not answered.

While reactions among voters were mixed, many expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the polls and hope that future elections in Kano would continue to be orderly and secure.