The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately cancel the ongoing bye-elections in Shanono/Bagwai Constituency and the rerun election in Ghari Constituency of Kano State, citing widespread violence and disruptions.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, alleged that the electoral process in the affected areas was severely compromised by “extreme violence and disruption by armed thugs.”
According to Morka, multiple polling units across Shanono, Bagwai, and Ghari constituencies witnessed alarming incidents of voter intimidation and chaos, which forced many voters to flee and left security personnel struggling to maintain control.
“Verifiable reports from Shanono and Bagwai Local Government Areas and Ghari Constituency indicate voters fleeing polling areas, with deployed security personnel overwhelmed by the violence. The prospects of a credible election under such conditions are impossible,” he stated.
Morka further warned that continuing the elections amid such unrest would undermine democratic principles and set a dangerous precedent. “Proceeding with the Shanono/Bagwai bye-election and Ghari rerun in an atmosphere of utter brigandage and outright voter intimidation is contrary to the democratic tenets of a free, fair, and peaceful election,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest of 288 suspected political thugs in connection with attempts to disrupt the elections. Speaking in a phone interview on Saturday, the Kano State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, said the suspects were apprehended with dangerous weapons, including a pump-action gun, four locally made firearms, cutlasses, and sticks.
Haruna noted that some of the arrested individuals were linked to political sponsors, and investigations are ongoing.
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