The Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Abdu Zango, has announced that 10 political parties will participate in the upcoming by-elections for the Kano assembly. This revelation was made during a stakeholders’ meeting in Kano, where Zango disclosed that the commission had received nominations from the parties for the polls in Kano Municipal and Ungogo local government areas.
The participating parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Action Congress (AAC), People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Good Party, Action Alliance (AA), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). According to Zango, the nominations were submitted at the state level, while the candidates’ details are being uploaded by the party national headquarters through the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) online portal.
As of the deadline, the commission had received nominations from the 10 parties, with the uploading process still ongoing. The final number of candidates will be confirmed by INEC headquarters once the process is completed. Zango also noted that INEC had deployed monitors from its national headquarters to observe party primaries in the affected areas, and no problems were reported.
Regarding internal party disputes, particularly within the NNPP, Zango stated that INEC had not received any court order or official notice affecting party leadership or primaries. He emphasized that INEC’s responsibility is guided strictly by the law and reports from duly monitored primaries.
The by-elections will take place in two constituencies across Kano Municipal and Ungogo, with over 535,000 registered voters and more than 1,000 polling units. The REC assured voters that preparations for the by-elections are at an advanced stage and urged eligible voters in the affected areas to come out and vote. INEC has promised adequate staff and logistics to ensure a smooth exercise. With the elections approaching, the commission’s efforts to ensure a free and fair process will be closely watched by stakeholders and voters alike.
