Low voter turnout mars Kano Assembly by-election

The Kano State House of Assembly by-election in Ungogo Local Government Area has recorded a disturbingly low voter turnout.

Supreme news reports that across several polling units in Ungogo, only a small number of voters exercised their civic rights.

Observers attributed the situation to the boycott by some major political parties, including the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Some residents said the absence of key political parties significantly affected participation, as supporters of the boycotting parties chose to stay away from the polls.

At Jangaro polling unit in Ungogo Local Government Area, however, turnout was described as average.

A voter, Sadiq Salisu, said the residents arrived early to cast their ballots.

“People came out on time,” he noted, though he acknowledged that the boycott by some major political parties contributed to the lower turnout recorded in other polling units within the area.

In Bachirawa Ward, Ungogo local government, low voter turnout was also observed in spite of the early arrival of election officials.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reported to have arrived on schedule, but many eligible voters declined to show up.

Residents in the ward similarly linked the low participation to the decision of some prominent political parties not to take part in the election.

In contrast, Wajila Ward in the Kano Municipal recorded a full turnout of voters.

Polling units in the area were busy, with voters turning up in large numbers to cast their votes.

However, it was observed that women did not come out in large numbers compared to the male voters, in spite of the overall high participation rate in the ward.

Election officials were expected to collate results as voting was yet to be concluded across the affected local government areas.