LOW VOTER TURNOUT RECORDED IN BY-ELECTIONS IN KANO MUNICIPAL AND UNGOGO

By Baba Comrade, E-Magazine

February 21, 2026

By-elections were conducted on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Areas of Kano State.

Monitoring and field visits revealed a low voter turnout across many polling units visited in Kano Municipal. Among the areas covered were Dan’agundi, Kwalli, Gidan Makama, Shahurci, Zage, and Chedi, where turnout was observed to be below expectations.

Similarly, in Ungogo Local Government Area, a comparable situation was reported in some polling units. At Tudun Fulani, reports indicated a low turnout of voters. However, Rijiyar Zaki recorded a relatively higher number of voters compared to other locations visited.

Findings further showed that despite adequate preparations for the conduct of the elections in the areas assessed, voter participation fell short of expectations in most polling units.

Authorities are expected to review the factors responsible for the low turnout in order to strengthen public engagement and participation in future elections.

One of the voters, who also served as a party agent, told our correspondent that, “The reason people did not come out to vote is that political parties failed to adequately mobilize and engage their party representatives. As a result, many members of the public were not properly informed about the by-election.”