Major opposition political parties stayed away from the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency by-election in Kano State, leaving the contest largely in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and two smaller parties.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC) all declined to field candidates for the by-election, a development that has been described by political analysts as significantly altering the dynamics of the race.
The poll on Saturday was conducted to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives following the death of former lawmaker Muhammad Hassan.
Despite the absence of some of the country’s major opposition parties, voter turnout was reported to be impressive across polling units in the constituency, with residents turning out in large numbers to cast their ballots.
Three candidates contested the election: Rabiu Shuaibu of the APC, Lawan Haruna of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and Abubakar Muhammad of the Labour Party (LP).
Many voters who spoke during the exercise said the absence of the PDP, ADC and NDC had reshaped the political landscape and could potentially boost the APC’s chances of securing victory.
Political analysts also noted that by-elections often serve as indicators of party strength ahead of larger electoral contests and that the boycott by major opposition parties could provide the ruling party with an easier path to retaining the seat.
Explaining the NDC’s decision to stay out of the election, the party’s Kano State Chairman, Usaini Mairiga, said the move was part of a broader political strategy aimed at conserving resources and strengthening the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
“We decided to conserve our political strength and resources for the 2027 elections. Experience has shown that opposition parties often face enormous challenges in bye-elections, making such contests difficult to win,” Mairiga said.
According to him, the party had already shifted its attention to the next electoral cycle and would support Mustapha Bala as its candidate for the Warawa/Dawakin Kudu Federal Constituency seat in 2027.
Party officials confirmed that both the PDP and ADC adopted similar positions, choosing not to participate in the contest.
The development effectively narrowed the field and reduced what could have been a highly competitive race involving several major political parties.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the counting of votes shortly after polling ended across the constituency.
Reports from various polling units indicated that the election was conducted peacefully, with no major incidents of violence, voter intimidation or disruption recorded during the exercise.
Security personnel were deployed to strategic locations across the constituency to maintain order and ensure the smooth conduct of the poll, while INEC officials supervised the voting process.
Speaking on the conduct of the election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano State, Abdu Zango, commended voters for their orderly participation and adherence to electoral guidelines.
He described the atmosphere throughout the exercise as peaceful and encouraged citizens to continue supporting democratic processes through active participation in elections.
The by-election is being closely watched by political stakeholders as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For the APC, retaining the seat would reinforce its influence within the constituency, while opposition parties are expected to use the outcome to reassess their strategies and strengthen grassroots structures in preparation for future contests.
As counting continued late Saturday, residents and political observers awaited the official declaration of results that will determine who succeeds the late Muhammad Hassan in representing the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.