Three major opposition parties, the People’s Democratic Party, New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), are missing from the ballot papers for Saturday’s Kano State House of Assembly by-election.
The election, held to fill two vacant assembly seats following the deaths of former NNPP lawmakers last year, lists nine other political parties on the ballot, excluding the three major opposition groups.
Voter turnout was low in Kano Municipal Local Government Area, with many polling units seeing only a handful of voters by mid-morning.
INEC officials were stationed and prepared, while security personnel-maintained order across the area.
Observers expressed concern over the exclusion of the opposition parties, which could affect the credibility of the by-election. INEC has not issued a statement explaining the omission.