By Aminu Garko
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Kano Stare, Amb. Abdu Zango, has commended the security agencies for ensuring adequate security during Saturday State Assembly by-election.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zango made the remark while speaking to newsmen shortly after monitoring the ongoing election in Kano.
Zango, however, blamed the leaderships of NNPP and PDP for not fielding candidates for the by-election, insisting that INEC was ready to welcome any party that met all the necessary requirements.
He attributed the low turnout of voters to the ongoing Ramadan fast, adding: “And the fact that it was only in two state constituencies that the by-election held.
“You have gone round and seen things for yourselves. As far as security is concerned, you can see for yourselves, no issue.
“And we really want to appreciate and commend the citizens and voters.”
The REC sduc that the electorate had behaved responsibly, adding: ”No violence. No threat, whatsoever, visible or even invisible.”
He said: ” So, we are very happy. For the low turnout of voters in some polling units, maybe, because of the Ramadan.
“Second, I think the general feeling that this is a very small election involving only two candidates, and very few parties. We have nine parties that fielded candidates.
” For the parties that did not participate, INEC did not receive any complaint from them.
“We have not received any accusation or anything. That they are not participating is entirely their responsibility.
“We don’t decide who participates. Whichever party that does primary, and satisfies all the necessary guidelines as contained in the Electoral Act, is eligible to field candidates.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nine parties that participated in the by-election were: Accord Party, AAC, ADC, APC, APN, APP, PRP, WPP, and ZLP.
(NAN)