Three prominent opposition parties — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — are absent from the ballot papers for the Kano State by-elections holding today.
The by-election, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is aimed at filling two vacant seats in the Kano State House of Assembly.
The vacancies arose following the deaths of the former lawmakers last year, both of whom were members of the NNPP prior to their demise.
However, voters arriving at polling units across the affected constituencies were met with ballot papers listing nine political parties — excluding the PDP, NNPP and ADC.
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The absence of the three parties, considered significant players in the state’s political landscape, has drawn attention from observers and residents alike.
While INEC has not publicly clarified the reasons for their omission as of press time, the development may reshape the dynamics of the contest.
For supporters of the affected parties, the exclusion could influence voter enthusiasm and participation in an election already marked by reports of low turnout earlier in the day.
Political analysts say the absence of major opposition platforms may alter both the competitiveness and perceived legitimacy of the exercise, particularly given that the late lawmakers whose seats are being contested were members of one of the missing parties.
As voting continues, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the development impacts overall participation and the eventual outcome of the polls.