The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that strict compliance with electoral principles and guidelines will be maintained in Saturday’s rerun and bye-elections in Kano.

Additionally, INEC confirmed the massive deployment of the Biodatal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the conduct of the off-season election to fill two vacant seats in the state House of Assembly.

In Bagwai/Shannon constituency, a bye-election will be held in 337 polling units to replace the former legislator and member of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Hon. Halilu Gundila, who passed away last year.

At Ghari/Tsanyawa state constituency, a supplementary election was necessitated after the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) challenged and secured a court verdict that upturned INEC’s declaration of NNPP’s candidate after the 2023 general election.

Briefing journalists ahead of the poll, INEC Resident Commissioner, Amb. Abdu Zango posited that arrangements for the deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials are concluded, noting the commission’s preparedness for a credible election.

Amb. Zango added that 1,400 ad hoc staff have been deployed, while 300 are on standby, just as he reassured INEC that it would only declare the winner. He reiterated that the commission will not be partisan.

Although he emphasised the assurance of the joint security forces to provide maximum security during and after the poll, he expressed concern over the escalation of violence by political parties.

“Non-sensitive materials for the elections were in the local governments three weeks ago. Not only in local governments, but they have also been batched according to registration areas and polling units. If you want to proceed with the election now, regarding non-sensitive materials, you can start it right away.

“Sensitive materials have arrived. This evening, we will distribute them to the local government immediately. The electoral officers are coming. Party agents will be here, and they will be conveyed today.”

On security, the INEC boss said, “As far as security is concerned, we had the meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security, made up of all the security agencies and other stakeholders.

“We have been assured of adequate security, characterised by massive deployment that has started since yesterday, where the elections will be held. If you go to Ghari, Bagwai, or Shahnono, a stop-and-search operation has already started.

“Our Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines have been configured almost two weeks ago. When conducting an election, you configure the BVAS according to the polling unit, side by side with the voter’s register. A voter’s card is a mandatory requirement for the election. It’s sacrosanct. If you don’t have a card, don’t go to the polling unit.”