Some political parties were reportedly missing on ballot papers during a recent by-election in Kano State, raising concerns among voters and party supporters.
Voters who arrived at their polling units said they were surprised not to find the logos and names of some major political parties on the ballot papers provided for the exercise. The development caused confusion in several areas as party agents and supporters demanded explanations.
Among the parties said to be absent were the Peoples Democratic Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the African Democratic Congress. Supporters of the affected parties claimed the omission could affect the credibility of the election.
Some voters expressed frustration, saying they had come out early to cast their votes only to discover that their preferred parties were not listed. They described the situation as disappointing and called for clarification from the electoral authorities.
Party agents at some polling units were seen discussing with officials over the issue. In a few locations, the confusion reportedly slowed down the voting process as people tried to understand what had happened.
Supporters of the affected parties alleged that the omission might disenfranchise their members in the constituency where the by-election was taking place. They urged the electoral body to address the matter quickly.
However, voting continued in many polling units despite the complaints. Security personnel were present to maintain order and ensure that the situation did not escalate.
Residents in the area said the by-election was important to them and expressed hope that any issues would be resolved in a fair and transparent manner.
Observers noted that the incident could lead to further reactions from political stakeholders, especially if the affected parties decide to challenge the process.
As voting progressed, attention remained focused on how the electoral body would respond to the concerns raised over the missing parties on the ballot papers.