The Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano State has expressed its readiness to conduct all the bye-elections in the state.
This was disclosed by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abu Zango, while addressing stakeholders at the Kano State headquarters of the commission on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
According to Zango who disclosed that all arrangements have been completed for the conduct of all the bye-elections in the state, the elections slated for February 3, would be held in three state constituencies, including Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Kura/Garun Malam and Rimin Gado/Tofa in Six local government areas of the state.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Sept. 30, ordered the rerun for the state assembly in the six local government areas of Kano State.
Speaking on the INEC’s level of preparedness, Zango said, “We are fully ready for the bye-elections with our trained electoral personnel ready to conduct transparent and credible elections for the conduct of elections in six local government areas.
“We are conducting elections in 66 polling units across the six local government areas.
“Any person without a permanent voter’s card will not participate in the bye-election.”
He further assured that the commission had deployed sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all the affected local government areas in the state.
Mr Zango explained that to ensure that the conduct of the coming bye-elections in the state, is free, fair and credible, the commission will ensure that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System would be used during the re-run elections.
The state REC however expressed confidence that the bye-elections would be successful.
“We have prepared and equipped our personnel with basic electoral knowledge for the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections come Feb. 3,” he added.
Speaking further during the event, Zango also commended the effort of the Police for providing the required security before and during the bye-elections.
Also speaking during the event, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hussaini Gumel, assured that the command had already put security measures in place to ensure smooth implementation of all electoral processes in the affected local government areas of the state.
Abdullahi gave further assurance that the police would be physically present in all the polling units, to enable eligible residents in the six local government areas, to participate in the exercise without threat to lives and property.
The police boss however warned leaders of political parties that would be partaking in the election, to advise their supporters to shun all kinds of political violence, ballot snatching and thuggery during the exercise, noting that no more finds culpable will be prosecuted accordingly.
”Police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person or group of persons found disrupting the peaceful political atmosphere the state is known for,” he said.