By Elizabeth Godwin
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel Saturday’s by-elections in Kano State, citing widespread violence, intimidation, and disruption by armed thugs.
The elections were held in Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency to replace the late Hon. Halilu Kundila, and in Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency following a court-ordered re-run. Both contests pitched the APC against the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and had previously been postponed twice due to security concerns.
In a statement issued on Sunday, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the level of violence recorded made it impossible for the exercise to meet democratic standards. He alleged that voters fled polling areas as armed thugs unleashed chaos, while security personnel deployed to the constituencies were overwhelmed.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately cancel the bye-elections for Shanono/Bagwai constituency and the Ghari constituency rerun election in Kano State due to widespread extreme violence and election disruption by armed thugs across several polling units,” Morka declared.
He warned that proceeding with results from such an atmosphere would set a “dangerous precedent for undesirable and unacceptable electoral heist.”
Reports from the affected constituencies indicated ballot snatching, intimidation of electoral officials, and attacks on voters, raising concerns about INEC’s ability to conduct credible elections in volatile areas.
The APC insisted that fresh elections must be scheduled under improved security conditions to guarantee the integrity of the process and safeguard voters’ rights.
Saturday’s polls in Kano were among 16 constituencies across 12 states where INEC conducted by-elections to fill vacant legislative seats. While the exercise elsewhere was largely peaceful, Kano stood out for violence and disruption, reinforcing its reputation as one of Nigeria’s most politically volatile states.
INEC is yet to officially respond to APC’s call for cancellation, but observers say the commission faces pressure to balance political demands with the need to uphold credibility and public confidence in the electoral process.
