Residents of Kano trooped out on Saturday to elect two members of the State House of Assembly, only to discover that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was absent from the ballot in the ongoing by-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies.
The unexpected omission sparked surprise among voters at several polling units. Although officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not immediately available to provide clarification, sources indicated that the exclusion of the NNPP may be connected to ongoing internal legal disputes within the party’s leadership.
Despite the political tension generated by the development, reports from polling units across the affected constituencies pointed to a largely calm and peaceful exercise.
Security personnel and electoral officers confirmed that no major incidents had been recorded as of the time of filing this report — a notable shift from previous elections in the state, which were characterised by unrest and disruptions.
However, voter turnout appeared low in many areas. Several polling stations witnessed minimal activity, with some residents attributing the reduced participation to the absence of the NNPP on the ballot. Others cited general voter apathy and political fatigue as contributing factors.
Salisu Yahaya Hotoro, Special Adviser to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Social Media, credited the peaceful atmosphere to the governor’s #KanoFirst agenda, which he said prioritises peace, security, and community harmony.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Hotoro maintained that proactive measures by the state government had reassured residents and enabled them to exercise their civic rights without fear.
With the NNPP missing from the ballot, political observers believe the development could tilt the contest in favour of candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who are considered strong contenders in the race.
Efforts to reach Hashimu Dungurawa, a factional chairman of the embattled NNPP, were unsuccessful as calls to his known GSM line were not answered.
Meanwhile, reactions among voters remained mixed. While some lamented the limited options available to them, others expressed relief over the peaceful conduct of the exercise and voiced hope that future elections in Kano would continue on the path of safety and order.
At a few polling booths visited, voter turnout remained low at the time of filing this report.
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