The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has clinched victory in the Bagwai/Shanono state constituency by-election in Kano, tightening its grip on the State House of Assembly.
Announcing the results on Sunday, Returning Officer Hassan Adamu Shitu declared Ali Hassan Kiyawa of the NNPP winner with 16,198 votes, defeating Ahmad Muhammad Kadamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 5,347 votes.
The by-election followed the death of former APC lawmaker, Halilu Ibrahim Kundila, in April 2024.
With the latest win, the NNPP now occupies 26 seats in the 40-member assembly, while the APC holds 14.
Saturday’s exercise was not without controversy. The APC through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, called for cancellation of the poll, alleging violence and disruption by armed gangs at several polling units in Shanono, Bagwai and Ghari.
However, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Audu Zango, disclosed that over 100 suspected political thugs were arrested during the election.
Reacting, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed APC’s claims as frivolous, insisting that the poll was peaceful, credible and reflective of the political dominance of the NNPP in Kano.
He argued that it was “unthinkable” for the outcome to swing in any other direction given the party’s firm support base in the state.