Opposition Boycotts Kano By-Elections as APC Sweeps Rivers Assembly Seats

Major opposition parties stayed away from Saturday’s by-elections in Kano State, even as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victory in two Rivers State House of Assembly contests.

In Kano, the African Democratic Congress, New Nigeria Peoples Party and Peoples Democratic Party declined to participate in the by-elections for the Ungogo and Kano Municipal constituencies. Party leaders cited alleged irregularities, security concerns and what they described as electoral arrangements skewed in favour of the APC.

The polls were organised to fill two vacant seats created by the deaths of Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo and Sarki Aliyu Daneji, both elected on the NNPP platform, who passed away on the same day in December 2025.

Explaining his party’s decision, Kano ADC chairman, Musa Ungogo, said restraint was necessary to preserve peace, especially during the Ramadan period.

“We are trying to avoid unnecessary violence in the state. It is the month of Ramadan, and we are trying to avoid anything that could disrupt the peace,” he said.

Ungogo further alleged that the rerun was designed to favour the ruling party. “They will manipulate the election and hand it over to the ruling party. We will not be part of such an arrangement,” he added.

He maintained that with about 13 to 14 months to the 2027 general elections, the ADC preferred to focus on wider political preparations rather than take part in what it considered a flawed process.

Similarly, the PDP chairman in the state, Yusuf Kibiya, criticised the conduct and structure of the election, describing it as tilted in favour of the APC. He said the party had formally complained to the electoral commission but received no response, adding that the judiciary would ultimately address their grievances.

Also condemning the process, the SDP chairman said, “It is shameful. The entire structure of the election favours only the ruling party. The Resident Electoral Commissioner sent us a letter on Friday, asking us to conduct a primary election just four days before the poll. That is practically impossible.

“We submitted our complaint to him in a letter, but he ignored it. We have also copied the national office for necessary action. We are going to court, and we are hopeful that justice will be done.”

The NNPP spokesperson in Kano, Ibrahim Baraya, said the party deliberately stayed away because the APC candidates were originally its nominees before defecting.

“They are the sons of the deceased lawmakers. After their death, the NNPP national leader selected them to replace their fathers. We do not have any problem with them. Even the governor was elected under the platform of the NNPP. We know they were forced to join the APC,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Electoral Commissioner, Abdu Zango, attributed the low voter turnout to Ramadan and the perception that the by-election was of lesser importance.

“Two things are responsible for the voter apathy, which include Ramadan and the nature of the election, which people see as not a big one,” he said, adding that the exercise was peaceful with no security breaches.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for what he described as a calm and orderly process.

“For the first time in recent history, we witnessed an election free of crisis, use of weapons and any form of manipulation in Kano. This development aligns with our Kano First Agenda. The era of killing, maiming and disenfranchising voters is over,” Yusuf was quoted as saying.

APC victorious in Rivers

In Rivers State, INEC declared APC candidates Napoleon Ukalikpe and Burabari Loloo winners of the Ahoada East Constituency 2 and Khana Constituency 2 by-elections, respectively.

Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Prof. Rosemary Ogbo, said both candidates secured the highest number of votes and met the legal requirements.

In Ahoada East Constituency 2, Ukalikpe polled 3,980 votes to defeat candidates of other parties. Ogbo declared, “Ukalikpe Napoleon of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

For Khana Constituency 2, Loloo won with 7,647 votes, defeating candidates of the African Alliance, NNPP, Young Peoples Party and Zenith Labour Party.

Speaking after her victory, Loloo pledged inclusive representation, promising to carry all constituents along when she assumes office.

Earlier, Ukalikpe, after voting in Ogbelle Town, Ward 9, described the process as orderly and commended the security arrangements, noting that the atmosphere across the constituency remained calm.

INEC’s Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, also described the election as peaceful and well conducted, dismissing claims that voter apathy was due to any lapse on the part of the commission.

“My expectation is, of course, that I will be victorious and that every other unit and ward will be peaceful like this has been,” the APC candidate for Khana Constituency 2, Burabari Henrietta, said earlier in the day after casting her vote.

Despite pockets of low turnout observed in parts of Ahoada East, voting and collation proceeded under tight security, with officials, party agents and observers monitoring the process in line with INEC guidelines.