The African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday boycotted the by-elections for Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies in Kano State, citing alleged irregularities and concerns over the credibility of the process.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seats left by the deaths of Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo and Sarki Aliyu Daneji, both elected on the NNPP platform, who died on the same day in December 2025.
The Kano State Chairman of the ADC, Musa Ungogo, said the party opted out to preserve peace, particularly during Ramadan.
“We are trying to avoid unnecessary violence in the state. It is the month of Ramadan, and we are trying to avoid anything that could disrupt the peace,” he said.
Ungogo alleged that the election was structured to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that the party would not participate in what it described as a manipulated process. He noted that with about 13 to 14 months to the 2027 general elections, the party would focus on broader political strategies.
Similarly, the State Chairman of the PDP, Yusuf Kibiya, described the rerun as skewed in favour of the APC. He said the party had lodged complaints with the electoral authorities but received no response, expressing confidence that the judiciary would address their grievances.
The State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also criticised the process, alleging that the Resident Electoral Commissioner issued a letter requesting a primary election just four days before the poll. The party said it had submitted a formal complaint and would seek legal redress.
The NNPP spokesperson in the state, Ibrahim Baraya, explained that the party deliberately stayed away from the rerun because the APC candidates were originally its nominees before defecting. According to him, the candidates are sons of the deceased lawmakers and were initially selected by the NNPP national leader to succeed their fathers. He added that the party chose not to substitute them despite their defection.
However, the State Electoral Commissioner, Abdu Zango, attributed the low voter turnout to Ramadan and the perception that the by-election was not a major poll. He maintained that the exercise was peaceful, with adequate security deployed.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, commended the electoral body and security agencies for what he described as the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, the governor described the exercise as a milestone in the state’s democratic journey.
He praised residents of Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies for their discipline and peaceful participation, and commended political parties, particularly members of the APC, for adhering to electoral guidelines.
“For the first time in recent history, we witnessed an election free of crisis, use of weapons and any form of manipulation in Kano. This development aligns with our Kano First Agenda. The era of killing, maiming and disenfranchising voters is over,” Yusuf was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, in Rivers State, candidates of the APC were declared winners in the House of Assembly by-elections for Ahoada East Constituency 2 and Khana Constituency 2.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Rosemary Ogbo, announced that Napoleon Ukalikpe won the Ahoada East seat after polling 3,980 votes to defeat candidates of other parties, including the Action Alliance, Action Party of Nigeria, Boot Party, NNPP, Young Progressives Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
Ogbo declared that Ukalikpe satisfied the requirements of the law and was duly returned elected.
In Khana Constituency 2, APC candidate Burabari Loloo secured 7,647 votes to defeat candidates of the African Alliance, NNPP, Young Peoples Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
Loloo pledged to carry her constituents along in governance, while Ukalikpe expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, describing the process as peaceful and orderly.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, described the election as peaceful and orderly during an assessment tour of voting activities in Khana LGA. He said voter apathy observed in some areas was not due to any lapse by the commission, noting that adequate publicity and sensitisation had been carried out ahead of the poll.
Voting in parts of Ahoada East commenced around 10 a.m. with low turnout in some units, while collation of results in Khana was conducted under tight security, with party agents and observers monitoring the process.