KEY POINTS

• Opposition parties ADC, PDP, and NNPP boycotted Kano by-elections, alleging bias, security concerns, and unfair advantages for APC.
• Electoral officials and the governor maintained that the Kano polls were peaceful, orderly, and credible despite low turnout.
• APC candidates won both legislative by-elections in Rivers State, with INEC confirming smooth conduct of voting and result collation.

Three opposition parties — African Democratic Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Peoples Democratic Party — boycotted Saturday’s by-elections for the Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies in Kano State, citing fears of violence, alleged irregularities, and claims that the process favored the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The polls were organized to fill vacancies created by the deaths of lawmakers Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo and Sarki Aliyu Daneji, both elected on the NNPP platform and who died on the same day in December 2025.

ADC state chairman Musa Ungogo said the party opted out to preserve peace during the Ramadan period, alleging that the electoral framework had been structured to benefit the APC.

He added that the party would instead channel its resources into preparations for the 2027 general elections.

PDP and NNPP Cite Bias, Threaten Legal Action

Echoing similar concerns, PDP state chairman Yusuf Kibiya described the exercise as skewed, revealing that the party had formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission to protest the process but received no response. He stated that the PDP would pursue legal redress.

NNPP spokesperson Ibrahim Baraya said his party intentionally stayed away, claiming that the APC candidates contesting the by-election were originally NNPP nominees who later defected, thereby undermining fairness.

Kano State Electoral Commissioner Abdu Zango rejected allegations of malpractice, attributing the low voter turnout to Ramadan observances and the perception that the contest was a minor election. He insisted the exercise was peaceful and devoid of security threats.

State governor Abba Yusuf also praised electoral officials and security agencies, describing the poll as orderly and commending residents for demonstrating political maturity and discipline.