The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano has cried foul over the rerun elections in Ghari/Takai and Bagwai/Shanono federal constituencies, insisting the exercise did not meet the standard of a free and fair contest.
Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, chairman of the APC in the state, told journalists that the polls were plagued with voter intimidation and manipulation. “Our supporters were being chased from their homes to enable the opposition to thumb-print ballot papers,” he alleged. He added that thugs were stationed across polling units to scare away voters loyal to the APC.
Complaints about late materials
Abbas further expressed concern that ballot papers and other materials did not arrive in several polling stations until well into the day. By 11 a.m., he said, many voters were still waiting to cast their ballots. For him, such delays raised doubts about the credibility of the exercise. “This is not an election,” the Kano APC chairman declared, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the lapses.
INEC defends process
Responding to the allegations, Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Abdu Zango, said INEC had distributed all necessary materials and only encountered minor setbacks. He admitted there were transportation challenges and incidents of thuggery, but stressed that security agencies were deployed quickly to restore order. According to him, the voting process continued across the affected areas.
NNPP denies wrongdoing
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on its part, rejected APC’s claims. Its state chairman, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, said their members acted peacefully throughout the rerun. “We are law-abiding party members ready to exercise our civil responsibility,” he said, insisting that NNPP supporters neither carried weapons nor harassed voters.
The conflicting accounts highlight the deep mistrust in Kano’s political arena. While APC insists the rerun was compromised, both INEC and NNPP maintain the process was valid.
For many Kano residents, the dispute reflects the fragile state of electoral trust. As Kano APC cries foul and labels the rerun “not an election,” the controversy continues to cast doubt on the credibility of the polls
