Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday conducted a bye-election in Kano State, with three major opposition parties missing from the ballot.
The affected parties are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and a coalition involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The election was held to fill two vacant seats in the Kano State House of Assembly for the Municipal and Ungogo constituencies, following the deaths of the former lawmakers last year. INEC had earlier assured the public of its readiness to conduct what it described as a free, fair, and credible poll.
At a media briefing, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Abdul Zango, said all parties were given equal opportunities to participate.
“All political parties were given equal opportunity to nominate candidates. The commission is fully prepared to conduct a transparent and credible election,” Zango had said.
However, INEC’s final list showed that only nine parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), were cleared to contest.
Reacting, the Boniface-led faction of the NNPP, through Senator Mushud El-Jibril Doguwa, accused INEC of unfairly disqualifying its candidates.
“We duly submitted our candidates for the Municipal and Ungogo constituencies, but INEC refused to recognise our party for reasons best known to them,” Doguwa said.
He added,
“This is a clear attempt to sideline us from the democratic process. We will not accept it. We are already consulting our lawyers and will institute legal action against INEC.”
Similarly, the Kano State Chairman of the PDP, Yusuf Kibiya, accused INEC of violating the Electoral Act.
“We were ready and willing to participate in this by-election,” Kibiya said. “However, INEC only gave us four days to conduct our primaries and submit the names of candidates. That is not sufficient time, and it undermines the spirit of the law.”
He described the situation as “deeply troubling for democracy” and said the party would review its options.
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