The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State have announced their decision not to participate in the state House of Assembly by-elections slated for February 21 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The parties, in separate statements, cited lack of confidence in the electoral process and inadequate notice as reasons for their withdrawal.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Kano State Chairman of the ADC, Musa Shu’aibu Ungoggo, said the party resolved to boycott the exercise because it had no faith in the credibility of the process.
According to him, previous by-elections he monitored did not reflect genuine democratic contests, describing them as a mere “appointment” rather than elections.
“Let the world know that ADC, as a political party, will not participate in the upcoming by-election. We are now concentrating on preparing for the 2027 general elections,” Ungoggo stated.
He added that the party had chosen to channel its energy towards preparations for the next general elections instead of what he described as a futile exercise.
Ungoggo further alleged that some political parties participating in the by-elections were doing so under the influence of the ruling party in the state. He claimed he had been approached to involve the ADC in the race but declined.
“We will not be part of the drama associated with by-elections,” he said.
Similarly, the Kano State Chairman of the PDP, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, declared that his party would not take part in the polls, blaming what he described as inadequate notice from INEC.
Kibiya explained that the time given to the party was too short to allow for proper preparation and meaningful participation.
“Although we have written to INEC, we have not received any response. I have also informed the party headquarters about the situation,” he said.
“Therefore, I want to inform our members that we will not be participating in the upcoming by-elections.”
The by-elections were scheduled by INEC to fill vacant seats in the Kano State House of Assembly following the death of two serving lawmakers in December 2025.