INEC blames Ramadan for low voter turnout in Kano by-election

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has linked the low turnout of voters in Saturday’s by-election in Kano State to the ongoing Muslim Ramadan fast and the perception that the exercise involved only a few candidates.

Kano State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Abdu Zango disclosed this while addressing newsmen during an on-the-spot assessment of the elections in Kano Municipal area of the state.

Zango, who explained that several factors were responsible for the low turnout of voters in the state, noted that, “First of all, I think the timing. Maybe Ramadan. Second, I think the general feeling is that this is a very small election involving only a few candidates. Very few parties. Nine contestants, I think,” he said.

Reacting to questions on why the opposition parties did not participate in the elections, Zango noted that participating in elections is entirely the responsibility of the parties.

He added that, “We don’t decide who participates. Whoever does the primary, sends his candidate, uploads it, if you like, and satisfies all the necessary guidelines as contained in the Electoral Act is a candidate.

“So that decision is for the parties. And I think it’s the parties that will answer that question for you,” Zango stated.

He remarked that the election had been peaceful and violence-free across the affected constituencies and lauded the residents of the state for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.