Kano bye-election: ADC, NDC opted out of Saturday’s Dawakin Kudu poll, give reasons

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will not participate in Saturday’s bye-election for the Kano State House of Assembly seat for Dawakin Kudu.

‎The election, scheduled for September 19, 2026, will be contested by six candidates from six political parties, according to the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

‎The parties are ADP, APP, APC, LP, PDP and PRP.

‎The absence of the two opposition parties comes amid internal disputes in many parties in Kano as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‎Speaking on why the ADC did not field a candidate in the bye-election, the party’s Kano State chairman, Musa Shu’aibu Ungogo, said the leadership crisis currently before the courts prevented the party from participating.

‎He said the party had candidates ready to contest the election but was unable to proceed because of the ongoing dispute over control of the party.

‎”INEC called me on the issue of the candidate, and I told them to leave it. We are watching to see how they will manage it, since they have not been able to run the party,” Ungogo told DAILY POST.

‎”We have our candidates who have been there since when we were the only ones in the party, before these people came in, and by God’s grace, we will reclaim our party,” he added.

‎The ADC has been divided over its leadership and its choice of candidate for the 2027 Kano governorship election, with different factions backing Ibrahim Khalil and Ibrahim Ali-Amin, popularly known as Ibrahim Little.

‎NDC focusing on 2027

In the case of the NDC, the party’s Kano State chairman, Hussain Isa Mairiga, said its decision not to participate was deliberate and was based on the approaching 2027 general elections.

‎Mairiga told DAILY POST that the party had decided to concentrate its resources and political structure on the 2027 election rather than contesting the Dawakin Kudu seat, which he said came too late for the party to meaningfully prepare for.

‎He said the decision was reached after consultations with the party’s leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

‎”We discussed with the leader of the NDC, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and we decided that we would not participate in the election. We are only waiting for the general election, when we will take the Kano government from the APC. That is what is before us,” Mairiga said.

‎The decision by the ADC and NDC to stay out of the Dawakin Kudu bye-election leaves six parties in the contest, while both opposition parties focus on resolving their internal issues and preparing for the 2027 elections.

‎INEC said it has completed preparations for the bye-election and urged voters, candidates and political parties to comply with electoral laws and maintain peace before, during and after the poll.