Arrests in Kano By-Election as APC Calls for Cancellation

By Diafa Doubra,

Kano State witnessed heightened political tension over the weekend as security operatives arrested several individuals, including leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a suspected political thug, in connection with alleged irregularities during the state’s by-elections.

According to reports, the arrests were carried out after widespread complaints of malpractice, ballot tampering, and voter intimidation in some polling units. The development has since sparked heated political reactions, particularly from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has called for the immediate cancellation of the exercise.

The APC leadership in the state alleged that the arrested individuals played a key role in undermining the credibility of the electoral process, insisting that the presence of compromised officials and political actors tainted the integrity of the vote. Party leaders further argued that allowing the results to stand would amount to endorsing fraud and electoral misconduct.

On its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to release an official statement on the arrests or the status of the election results. However, observers say the situation could escalate into a wider political standoff if swift and transparent actions are not taken.

Political watchers note that Kano, being a highly strategic state in Nigeria’s political landscape, often experiences intense contests between major parties, raising concerns that the unfolding controversy may deepen partisan divisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.