Low Voter Turnout Marks By-Elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo

By-elections held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State were characterized by low voter turnout across several polling units monitored.

Field visits across parts of Kano Municipal, including Dan’agundi, Kwalli, Gidan Makama, Shahurci, Zage, and Chedi, revealed that voter participation fell below expectations.

Many polling units recorded sparse attendance, with election officials reportedly prepared but left waiting for voters.

A similar pattern was observed in Ungogo Local Government Area.

While Tudun Fulani experienced low turnout, Rijiyar Zaki stood out with a comparatively higher number of voters, offering a contrast to the generally subdued participation seen elsewhere.

Despite reports of adequate logistical preparations and the peaceful conduct of the polls in the areas assessed, overall voter engagement remained weak.

Stakeholders are now expected to examine the underlying causes of the low turnout and explore strategies to improve voter mobilization and public participation in future elections.

One voter, who also served as a party agent, attributed the low participation to poor grassroots mobilization by political parties. “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,” he said.