Nine months after, Shanono/Bagwai constituency remains without representation

Nine months after the sudden demise of Hon. Halilu Ibrahim Kundila, the representative of Shanono/Bagwai Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, the constituency remains without a legislator, raising concerns about INEC’s commitment to its constitutional duties, DAILY POST reports.

The Nigerian constitution mandates that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts a bye-election within 90 days following the death of a legislator. Yet, residents of Shanono and Bagwai continue to await representation and their frustrations growing with each passing day.

“This prolonged delay has left Shanono/Bagwai in limbo,” said Ammar Wakili Shanono, spokesperson to the Chairman Shanono Local government council, while speaking to DAILY POST.

He said further,  “Absence of our representative and failure of INEC to conduct bye-elections has created a vacuum that has directly affected the well being of our community,” he added.

He said some needs of the community were not included in the 2025 budget due to the absence of a representative in the state assembly. He called on the electoral commission, INEC, to urgently rescue the people of the area by conducting a bye-election as provided by law.

DAILY POST observes that the ripple effects of this neglect are apparent: abandoned infrastructure projects, unresolved issues in education and healthcare, and increasing youth unemployment. For many, the absence of a representative feels like a denial of their fundamental rights to governance.

Political parties are cautiously preparing for the bye-election, but the uncertainty surrounding the timeline has left campaigns in a state of paralysis. With mounting pressure on INEC to act, Shanono and Bagwai residents are left questioning if their call for representation will ever be answered.

Our efforts to hear from the INEC officilas in Kano regarding the cause of the delay in conducting the election were unsuccessful.

However, a source within the office, who requested anonymity, informed us that preparations are well advanced to hold the election on January 18, 2025, following consultations with key stakeholders scheduled for next week.