Kano: Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the outcome of the Bagwai/Shanono Constituency by-election, citing widespread violence and electoral malpractices.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, addressed journalists in Kano, describing the exercise as a ‘charade.’ He alleged that the election was marred by thuggery, ballot snatching, and vote manipulation.
The minister accused the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of violating the peace accord signed by political parties before the poll. He claimed its supporters hijacked ballot papers and result sheets, stuffed boxes, and allocated votes in their favour without the participation of genuine voters.
Ata declared that no credible election took place in Bagwai/Shanono. He stated that the people, who had been waiting patiently for this by-election since the death of their representative, Hon. Halilu Ibrahim Kundila, in April last year, were disenfranchised, traumatised, and in some cases chased away from their homes.
He urged INEC to immediately fix a new date for a fresh, free, and transparent election in the constituency. Ata further alleged that on election day, thousands of armed thugs, some allegedly recruited from neighbouring states, invaded Shanono and Bagwai.
He called on security agencies to prosecute all those arrested in connection with this violence and appealed to APC supporters across the state to remain calm and law-abiding. Ata stressed that the foundation of democracy is the right of citizens to vote freely and safely for candidates of their choice.
The Kano State House of Assembly by-election held on Saturday ended with both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) recording victories. The ruling NNPP in the state recorded victory in the Bagwai/Shanono State Assembly rerun, while the APC secured victory in the Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency by-election.
The Police had earlier confirmed the arrest of over 200 suspected political thugs for their alleged involvement in election irregularities in Bagwai/Shanono.