KANO — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday commenced by-elections in Kano State with the notable absence of three major opposition parties on the official ballot papers.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were all excluded from the race to fill vacant seats in the Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies.
The vacancies arose following the deaths of two lawmakers last year, both of whom were members of the NNPP. Despite the party’s previous control of these seats, internal leadership crises and unresolved legal disputes left them unable to field candidates. The PDP and ADC had previously announced a boycott of the exercise, citing “inadequate notice” from the electoral umpire.
Reports from various polling units indicate a low voter turnout, which officials have attributed to the ongoing Ramadan fasting. While nine other parties remain on the ballot, the absence of the major opposition groups has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the dominant contender in the polls.
