APC requests cancellation of Kano bye-election over alleged violence

Abdullateef Fowewe

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the bye-election for the Shanono/Bagwai State Constituency and the rerun election in Ghari Constituency, Kano State, citing widespread violence and disruption.

The APC in a statement on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, alleged that armed thugs unleashed extreme violence across several polling units in the affected areas, forcing voters to flee and overwhelming security personnel deployed to the constituencies.

According to the party, “verifiable reports from Shanono and Bagwai Local Government Areas and Ghari constituency have voters fleeing polling areas, with deployed security personnel overwhelmed by the violence, making the prospects of a credible election impossible.”

The APC warned that proceeding with the elections under such conditions would amount to “utter brigandage and outright violent voter intimidation,” stressing that such an outcome would undermine democratic principles and set a dangerous precedent for future polls.

“Proceeding with the Shanono/Bagwai Kano State Constituency bye-election and Ghari rerun election in the atmosphere of utter brigandage and outright violent voter intimidation will be against democratic dictates of free, fair and peaceful election, and set a dangerous precedent for undesirable and unacceptable electoral heist,” the statement reads.