The Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ambassador Abdu Zango, has attributed the low voter turnout recorded during the Ungogo and Kano Municipal bye-elections to limited participation by political parties.
The bye-elections, which are being conducted across 1,014 polling units in 24 registration areas, follow the deaths of Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo of Ungogo constituency and Sarki Aliyu of Kano Municipal constituency in December 2025.
With approximately 535,000 registered voters expected to participate, election materials reportedly arrived at polling stations early.
Zango, while monitoring the exercise on Saturday, told Journalists that the elections were generally peaceful but that low participation was observed in several polling units.
The REC noted that, despite the turnout, the process was conducted in a calm atmosphere, with no reported violence or security breaches.
“First of all, I think the timing, maybe Ramadan. Second, I think the general feeling that this is a very small election involving only two candidates and very few parties. Nine contestants, I think”.
“As far as security is concerned, you can see for yourselves, no issue. It’s very unlike Kano. We really want to appreciate and commend citizens who have behaved responsibly. No violence.
No threat whatsoever, visible or even invisible. So we are very happy,” he stated.
Zango also said INEC had not received any formal complaints from some major opposition parties in the bye-elections.
“We have not received any accusation or anything. That they are not participating is entirely the responsibility of the parties. We don’t decide who participates,” he said.
According to him, political parties that conduct valid primaries, submit candidates and comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines are eligible to contest.
“So that decision is for the parties. I think it is the parties that will answer that question for you,” he added.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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