Low turnout marks State Assembly by-elections in Kano Municipal, Ungogo

Residents of Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Areas went to the polls on Saturday, February 21, 2026, to elect new representatives following the death of two state lawmakers on December 24, 2025.

The two lawmakers, who represented Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies, died on the same day from different causes, prompting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to schedule by-elections to fill the vacant seats.

Low turnout observed in several polling units

A visit to several polling units in Kano Municipal revealed low voter turnout in areas including Kwalli, Wajila, Kankarofi, Dan’agundi, Sharada and Gidan Sarkin Kano.

Some voters attributed the low turnout to the ongoing Ramadan fast and the relatively cool weather that began on Friday and continued into Saturday morning.

Others linked the situation to the absence of major opposition parties in the contest, particularly the NNPP and the PDP.

Political realignments influence contest

The recent defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the NNPP to the APC also shaped the political landscape of the election.

Initially, NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had handed the party’s tickets for the two seats to the sons of the deceased lawmakers, Nabil Sarki Aliyu (Kano Municipal) and Aminu Sa’ad (Ungogo).

However, the candidates later defected alongside the governor to the APC, where they were revalidated as candidates.

The development led the NNPP to withdraw from active participation in the by-elections, maintaining that it had originally granted the tickets to the same individuals.

BVAS complaints surface

At the Dan’agundi polling unit in Kano Municipal, a voter, Ibrahim Alhassan, complained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to accredit him despite his name appearing on the voter register.

“I tried several times but the machine could not verify me. I placed all ten fingers and it kept showing ‘error.’ I suspect that the electoral body may have made changes affecting our data. The painful part is that there was no alternative arrangement for people with problems like mine,” he said angrily.

Persons with disabilities raise concerns

In Ungogo, at the Primary polling unit in Ungogo town, Sulaiman Muhammad, a person living with a disability, expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as a lack of provisions for people with special needs.

“I am the only one who came out. Others did not come because they were not informed about the election. The electoral body did not carry out adequate voter awareness,” he said.

INEC, police react

The Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Abdu Zango, who was seen monitoring the process at one of the polling units, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

“Alhamdulillah, you can see there is no violence,” he said.

Responding to concerns about low turnout, he added, “Mostly women turn out in large numbers, but many of them are occupied with household duties at this time. We expect greater turnout later in the day.”

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, also commended residents for maintaining peace.

“We are delighted. This is the first time we have witnessed this kind of election conducted so peacefully in Kano. We urge people to come out, cast their votes and return home safely,” he said.

Women show interest in civic participation

Some women interviewed expressed hope that electing new representatives would improve living conditions in their communities.

Sadiya Musa Zakiru, women leader in Dan’agundi, said women were more committed to community development.

“Women are even more in number than men. As time goes on, you will see more women coming out. Earlier, many were attending tafsir, but now they have finished,” she said.

Despite the challenges recorded in some polling units, security agencies and electoral officials maintained that the process remained peaceful, expressing optimism that the exercise would conclude successfully.