February 21, (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held by-elections for the Kano State House of Assembly on Saturday, an exercise characterized by a noticeably thin voter turnout and the unexpected exclusion of three major political parties from the ballot.
Constituents in the affected areas found that the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were omitted from the official papers, leaving only nine parties in contention.
THEWILL reports that these elections were triggered by the deaths of two legislators who represented their constituencies until their passing late last year. Both deceased lawmakers were prominent members of the NNPP.
According to a report by Arise News, the absence of these key opposition parties from the ballot has raised serious questions among monitors about the overall competitiveness and inclusivity of the poll.
In many polling units across the Kano Municipal Local Government Area, INEC officials were on the ground early and fully prepared, yet they spent much of the morning waiting for voters who never arrived in significant numbers.
Observations of mid-morning activity showed only a handful of constituents trickling in, while electoral materials remained largely untouched in many areas.
The day was marked by a palpable sense of voter apathy, even as a strong contingent of security operatives patrolled the affected areas to maintain order.
While the security presence ensured a peaceful environment for the few who chose to participate, observers noted that the minimal activity at the polls underscored a quiet and somewhat lopsided day for the democratic process in Kano.
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