By Our Correspondent

‎‎The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has condemned the call for cancellation of the by-elections in Shanono/Bagwai and Re-run in Ghari constituencies in Kano State.

‎The party has also applauded the people of Kano State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the security agencies for ensuring a credible voting exercise during the bye election and the re-run.

‎Apparently reacting to the call by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the cancellation over alleged violence, the party said such statement credited to the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, was frivolous and bereft of facts and reality.

‎In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the NNPP, Barr. Ladipo Johnson, the party said Morka’s position did not reflect the actual run of events at the election, stating that the NNPP candidate won overwhelmingly and as declared by the INEC Commissioner and …
‎NNPP was unequivocal in its assertion that the Shanono/Bagwai and Ghari constituencies bye-election and re-run were free, fair and credible and peaceful, adding that being an NNPP stronghold, it was unimaginable that the result could have been otherwise.

‎”So, the baseless cries of alleged violence as stated by Felix Morka is frivolous, clearly misplaced, bereft of facts and did not reflect the reality of the election.

‎”We must state unequivocally that there was no widespread irregularities at the election contrary to the misleading narrative by the APC.

‎”Of course, it should be clear to all and sundry that Kano generally is the stronghold of the NNPP and it is therefore inconceivable that the APC could have won the election. And the electoral history and outcomes in recent times in Kano State attest to this reality and conviction.
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“The results ought to be validated by the INEC and those who conducted the election will adjudge same as free, fair and credible and validly won by NNPP candidates, because they were”.

‎The party applauds the people of Kano State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the security agencies for ensuring a credible voting exercise during the bye election.

‎It saluted the courage of the people of Kano to withstand the antics of those it referred to as enemies of democracy in Kano State through their nefarious activities during elections.

‎”The NNPP recalls the activities of these people which resulted in the death of some members of the NNPP when a member of the National Assembly was alleged to have led some thugs to the Secretariat of NNPP in Tudun-Wada Local Government Areas during the 2023 general election and set it ablaze.
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“But kudos to the vigilance of the security agencies, such situation did not repeat itself today during the bye election in Kano State as the process went on smoothly without any violence whatsoever.
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“The NNPP hereby salutes the patriotism of the INEC officials who conducted the election and the security agencies for demonstrating absolute professionalism and courage.
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“The credibility of today’s bye election has been attested to by both the leadership of the lNEC and the Police in Kano State. In simple terms, the election in Kano State went smoothly without any violence. NNPP is therefore urging Nigerians and the international Communuty to disregard any claim of violence in today’s bye election in Kano State”, the statement concluded.

By Our Correspondent

Ahead of today’s bye-election in Anambra state,members of the Labour Party (LP) Caucus of Anambra lawmakers in the National Assembly has accused the state Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo of plans to deploy non-state security operatives, political thugs, including the Agunechemba security outfit and revenue enforcers known as ndi aka odo—to influence Saturday’s bye-elections in the state.

The elections which is for the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency seat in the House of Assembly and the Anambra South Senatorial Zone is to fill the vacuum left by late Senator Ifeanyi Uba and Hon Justice Azuka from Onitsha.

The group in a tatement issued in Awka on Friday by a composition of two senators and six House of Representatives members who make up the caucus alleged that the governor and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had perfected plans to use state-backed security outfits and touts to intimidate voters opposed to the ruling party.

The statement partly read, “Information at our disposal indicates that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his APGA have concluded plans to deploy men of the state’s security outfit, Udogachi, crude revenue enforcers known as ndi aka odo, and other non-state actors to take over various voting points for the bye-elections,” the statement read.

“The plan is to use these government-controlled agents to scare away prospective voters opposed to APGA from the polling units.”

According to the lawmakers, allowing the governor to control security in an election where his party is a major contender would confer “undue advantage” on the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

They called on national security chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, National Security Adviser, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, and the heads of the DSS and NSCDC to fully deploy personnel to the polling stations to ensure safety and also restore voter confidence.

By Our Correspondent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced a last minute inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the list of parties participating in Saturday’s bye elections in 12 states of the federation.

SDP logo

The last minute inclusion, according to the commission’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun followed a judgement of the Federal High Coury, Abuja ordering the commission to accept the list of candidates presented by the party.

The Commission said it did not Include the party at the initial stage because SDP did not notify it of the conduct of party primaries and therefore did not monitor same as required by law.

The statement reads: “The Commission has been served with the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025

In the judgement, the Commission was ordered to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidates in the bye-elections in 12 States of the Federation. The party did not earlier submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries for the bye-elections. For this reason, they were not monitored by the Commission.

The Commission wishes to assure the public, especially voters in the 12 States, that the 11th-hour judgement will not affect the election which will proceed tomorrow Saturday 16th August 2025 as scheduled.

“Meanwhile, the Commission will exercise its legitimate right of appeal under the law”.