AHEAD of Saturday’s by-election in Kano, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies have agreed to synergise efforts for a seamless election.

INEC has slated February 21, 2026, to replace the two members of the state’s House of Assembly, Sarki Aliyu and Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo, who died on the same day.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kano, Abdu Zango, gave the assurance after a meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security held at the Police Headquarters, Bompai in Kano.

Zango said the meeting was convened to review preparations, particularly security arrangements, ahead of the polls. According to him, security agencies were earlier directed to draw up a joint operational plan for the exercise, which has now been submitted and reviewed.

The REC, however, expressed confidence that the elections would be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, urging eligible voters in the affected areas to come out and cast their votes without fear.

Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, said security agencies had concluded all necessary arrangements to ensure hitch-free polls.

Bakori said there was no known security threat ahead of the elections, but assured that security personnel would be deployed across the affected areas to maintain law and order.

MEANWHILE, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has faulted what it described as “accelerated presidential assent” to the controversial amendment of the Electoral Act.

The group stated that, despite widespread public protests, consistent civil society advocacy, and expert warnings, President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the document raised serious concerns, especially regarding the country’s democratic survival.

In a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Dr Habibu Sale Mohammed, Kwankwasiyya believed that the clear public sentiment in favour of stronger electoral safeguards and against the will of both the Executive and National Assembly laid bare the dangers of unchecked one-party dominance.

According to the group, the passage of the controversial Act in the face of the loud rejection of some portions of the Act speaks volumes on Tinubu’s overwhelming influence on the National Assembly.

Kwankwasiyya also lamented that elected officials of opposition parties who are now defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have raised questions about integrity and ideological tests.

It said that when a democracy that is built on checks and balances is now gradually driven to a one-party system, the consequences leave much to be desired.