The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that six political parties will participate in the Kano State House of Assembly by-election scheduled to hold on Saturday in Dawakin Kudu Constituency.

The commission is also preparing to deploy 1,500 ad hoc personnel across the constituency’s 303 polling units as part of arrangements for the election.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Abdu Zango, disclosed the preparations on Tuesday after an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting with heads of security agencies at the Kano State Police Command headquarters.

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Zango said the commission had already distributed non-sensitive electoral materials ahead of the poll, while sensitive materials were expected to arrive on Wednesday.

According to him, INEC has worked with relevant security agencies to put measures in place aimed at ensuring that the election is conducted peacefully and without disruption.

He expressed confidence in the commission’s preparations, recalling that a previous election conducted in Dawakin Kudu was peaceful and credible.

“Every election is a learning process. We did that before in Dawakin Kudu and it was free, fair, credible, peaceful. No issue whatsoever. We will do the same, even better,” Zango said.

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The commission’s deployment plan covers all 303 polling units within Dawakin Kudu Constituency, with 1,500 ad hoc staff expected to support the conduct of the exercise.

The arrangement is part of efforts to ensure that voting and other election-day procedures are properly managed across the constituency.

Zango also assured residents that INEC and the security agencies were coordinating their activities to protect the integrity of the election and create an environment conducive to voting.

The Kano State Police Command has similarly announced plans for a security deployment ahead of the poll.

Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Adamu Bakori said security personnel would begin deployment to the constituency on Thursday, two days before the election.

Bakori said the command was fully prepared for the exercise and would work to maintain peace throughout the electoral process.

“We are fully prepared and deployment will commence by Thursday. It is going to be peaceful, fair and free. We are ready to go,” the commissioner said.

He added that improvements had been made to the security arrangements based on experience from previous electoral exercises.

The by-election is being conducted following the departure of the former occupant of the Dawakin Kudu State Assembly seat, who left the Kano State House of Assembly after securing a seat in the House of Representatives.

INEC has also provided voter figures for the constituency as part of its preparations for the election.

A total of 162,445 voters are registered in Dawakin Kudu Constituency, according to the commission.

Of that number, 148,971 registered voters have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing a collection rate of 91.7 per cent.

The figures indicate that a substantial proportion of registered voters have obtained their PVCs ahead of Saturday’s exercise.

With six political parties on the ballot, the election will determine who occupies the vacant seat in the Kano State House of Assembly.

INEC has urged stakeholders and residents to cooperate with election officials and security agencies to ensure a peaceful exercise.

The commission’s preparations, including the arrival of sensitive materials, deployment of ad hoc personnel and security arrangements, are expected to remain central to the final stages leading to election day.

The police command has likewise reiterated its readiness to provide security before and during the poll, while INEC has assured voters that necessary measures have been put in place for the conduct of the election.