Voters participate peacefully in Kano State bye-election, with INEC and security officials overseeing the process.
Kano bye-election credibility defended by NNPP
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP dismissed opposition claims that violence undermined the polls. The party said the elections reflected the will of the electorate, with candidates winning convincingly in areas under dispute. It insisted that the results certified by INEC officials should stand as the true outcome of the vote.
Johnson argued that Kano remains a traditional stronghold of the NNPP, making the outcome unsurprising. He described the claims of irregularities as “frivolous” and unsupported by field reports, emphasising that no widespread disruption was observed during the polls.
Party response to cancellation demands
The party noted that its agents across polling stations reported orderly conduct and timely collation, reinforcing what it called the credibility of the process.
It argued that allegations of disruption were politically motivated, aimed at discrediting the victory of its candidates in constituencies where the party has deep support.
INEC and security agencies commended for professional conduct
The NNPP also praised the roles played by electoral officers and security personnel in maintaining calm throughout the voting exercise. It pointed to the absence of major unrest as evidence of improved deployment and coordination, contrasting this with episodes of violence during the
2023 general elections in Tudun-Wada,
when the party’s secretariat was attacked and set ablaze.
According to Johnson, that earlier incident underscored the importance of vigilance. He said the peaceful conduct of the bye-election showed how security efforts have evolved to ensure fair participation and protection of voters in Kano State.
Security vigilance ensured credibility of Kano bye-election
The NNPP stressed that the exercise proceeded without serious incidents across polling centres. It highlighted that security forces intervened swiftly in isolated disturbances, allowing accreditation and voting to continue without interruption. The party said this underscored the determination of institutions to safeguard the democratic process.
Opposition criticism dismissed as unfounded
The All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier alleged that violence marred the bye-election and called for the exercise to be annulled. The NNPP described those allegations as unsubstantiated and inconsistent with reports from election observers. It added that such narratives only serve to misinform the public and cast unwarranted doubt on the electoral process.
Official announcements showed the NNPP retained the Bagwai/Shanono State Assembly seat, while the APC reclaimed the Ghari/Tsanyawa seat. The NNPP said the mix of outcomes demonstrated the openness of the process and urged the public to disregard narratives suggesting otherwise. It maintained that the
cancellation demands lacked any factual basis
and could not be supported by the records of the vote.
Validation of Kano bye-election credibility
The party concluded that any disputes over the results should be addressed through lawful electoral petition processes rather than public campaigns to discredit the election.
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It reiterated that INEC’s certification, combined with security and observer reports, confirmed that the Kano bye-election was conducted peacefully and legitimately.
