The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the bye-elections conducted on Saturday in Shanono/Bagwai LGAs and fix a new date for a fresh, free and transparent elections in the area.

The party accused the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the government of Kano State of deploying armed imported thugs to intimidate, attack, disrupt, and disenfranchise their supporters during the elections.

Addressing the media in Kano on Sunday, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, disclosed that these thugs were imported from neighbouring states and from outside Nigeria, insisting that the thugs infiltrated all the wards in the constituency to launch coordinated attacks on their supporters.

“The APC candidate for Shanono/Bagwai State Constituency was not spared, as his residence came under attack from these thugs” the Minister stated.

“As early as 5:am, yesterday Shanono and Bagwai LGAs were invaded by thousands of armed thugs wielding various dangerous weapons including guns allegedly recruited from within and outside Kano State including Brinin Gwari in Kaduna, Kebbi and Katsina states. They were conveyed in hundreds of trucks and vehicles” he stated.

“Sighting unknown and strange faces in their communities, the residents and voters ran away for safety and relocated to neighbouring villages in Gwarzo and Bichi LGAs.

“As a result of this, the NNPP took over the polling units, hijacked the sensitive ballot materials – ballot papers and result sheets, thumped the ballot papers and allocated votes for their party. No credible election took place in Shanono/Bagwai,” he alleged

“We appeal to the people of the constituency and our teaming supporters across the state to remain calm and law-abiding” he stated.

“We urge the security agencies to ensure the prosecution of all the armed thugs who have been arrested in connection with this charade” he stated. (The Sun)