The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have both announced that they will not field a candidate in the upcoming bye‑election for the Kano State House of Assembly seat of Dawakin Kudu, scheduled for Saturday, 19 September 2026.
According to the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the poll will be contested by six parties: the All Democratic People's Party (ADP), the All Peoples Party (APP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the People's Redemption Party (PRP).
Both opposition parties cited internal issues and strategic priorities as the reasons for their withdrawal. The ADC’s Kano State chairman, Musa Shu’aibu Ungogo, said the party was unable to participate because a leadership crisis currently before the courts had prevented it from fielding a candidate. “INEC called me on the issue of the candidate, and I told them to leave it. We are watching to see how they will manage it, since they have not been able to run the party,” Ungogo told the Daily Post. He added that the party had candidates ready but was unable to proceed due to the dispute over control of the party, and that it hoped to “reclaim our party” in the future.
In contrast, the NDC’s Kano State chairman, Hussain Isa Mairiga, said the decision was deliberate and aimed at concentrating resources on the 2027 general elections. “We discussed with the leader of the NDC, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and we decided that we would not participate in the election. We are only waiting for the general election, when we will take the Kano government from the APC,” Mairiga said. He noted that the timing of the Dawakin Kudu poll was too late for the party to prepare meaningfully.
The withdrawal of the ADC and NDC leaves six parties in the contest, while both groups focus on resolving internal disputes and preparing for the 2027 elections. INEC has confirmed that it has completed preparations for the bye‑election and urged all voters, candidates and parties to observe electoral laws and maintain peace before, during and after the poll.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
