Kano By-Election Records Low Voter Turnout

Low voter turnout was recorded on Saturday during the Kano State House of Assembly by-election in the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency.

The election was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission across the constituency, following the vacancy created in the state legislature.

Monitoring of the exercise showed that voters were slow to arrive at several polling units visited, although electoral officials and security personnel were present early to facilitate the process.

INEC officials arrived at most of the polling units before 8 a.m., while election materials were also reportedly delivered in good time.

Voting proceeded smoothly at the polling units monitored, with voters conducting themselves peacefully throughout the exercise.

Six political parties fielded candidates for the election. They included the Action Democratic Party, All Peoples Party, All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party and Peoples Redemption Party.

Several polling units in Dawaki and Kofar Yamma wards recorded voting activity, although the number of voters who turned out appeared relatively small compared with the number of registered voters in the constituency.

Before the election, INEC had disclosed that 162,445 voters were registered in Dawakin Kudu Constituency, while 148,971 had collected their Permanent Voter Cards.

The low turnout was also observed against the backdrop of security measures introduced for the election. The Kano State Police Command had restricted movement within Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area from midnight until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Only people performing essential duties, including INEC officials, accredited observers, medical personnel, firefighters and journalists, were permitted to move around during the restriction.

Some voters who participated in the exercise expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the poll and commended INEC officials for what they described as an orderly process.

One voter, Mustapha Abdullahi, attributed the low turnout partly to the nature of the election, noting that state constituency by-elections generally attract fewer voters than major elections.

Another voter, Aisha Hamisu, said she came to cast her ballot for her preferred candidate and expressed hope that whoever emerged victorious would fulfil campaign promises made to constituents.

The election took place amid heightened security, with personnel deployed across the constituency to maintain order and protect voters, electoral officials and materials.

As voting progressed, there were no major incidents reported at the polling units monitored.

The final outcome of the election will be determined after voting ends and INEC completes the counting, collation and declaration processes.

The exercise is part of INEC’s ongoing efforts to fill vacant legislative seats through by-elections across the country.