Residents of Bagwai and Shanono local government areas in Kano State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify the tenure of the incoming lawmaker ahead of the bye-election scheduled for August 16.
READ ALSO: Why APC lost Kano election — Adamu
The election, which will fill a vacant seat in the Kano State House of Assembly, comes nearly two years after the death of the former legislator representing the two constituencies, Daily Post reports.
With the next general election drawing closer, uncertainty surrounds the duration the new legislator will serve once elected.
Comrade Adamu Magaji Shanono, a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), welcomed INEC’s announcement of the election date but said the commission must address concerns about how long the winner will remain in office.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Isma’il from Bagwai LGA encouraged eligible voters to turn out for the poll while urging INEC to give a clear explanation on the matter to avoid confusion.
Responding to the public’s concerns, the Public Enlightenment Officer of INEC in Kano State, Ashiru Garba Rano, explained that the elected lawmaker would serve out the remaining term of the 2023–2027 legislative cycle, in line with existing electoral laws.
This position was echoed by legal expert Barrister Bashir Yusif Tudun Wuzirchi, who noted that the law is unambiguous in stating that a winner in a bye-election only completes the term of their predecessor.
