‘Era of killing voters is over’ — Abba Yusuf says Kano by-elections free of crisis, manipulation

Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, says Saturday’s by-electionsin the state were free from “crisis, use of weapons, and any form ofmanipulation”. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)organised by-elections for the Kano municipal and Ungogo state constituencies. In a statement signed by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, thegovernor’s spokesperson, Yusuf said the peaceful atmosphere experienced duringthe by-elections “reflected the growing political maturity of the people andthe effectiveness of security arrangements put in place.” He commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring thepeaceful conduct of the by-elections. Yusuf appreciated the people of Kano municipal and Ungogofor their “cooperation, discipline and commitment to peaceful participation”during the elections. The governor said the peaceful conduct of the by-electionsshows that Kano people are ready to “embrace issue-based politics anchored ondialogue, tolerance and respect for democratic values.” “This development aligns with our Kano first agenda. The eraof killing, maiming and disenfranchising voters is over,” he added. Three major opposition parties –the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the African DemocraticCongress (ADC) — were missing from the ballot papers for the Kano by-elections. Elections in Kano state are usually characterised byviolence. The state is one of the flashpoints of electoral violence in Nigeria.

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