The Kano State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area ahead of the State House of Assembly by-election scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026.
The command said the restriction would run from midnight on Saturday until 5pm as part of measures to ensure a peaceful, credible and hitch-free election in the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, the restriction was agreed in consultation with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, Kano State chapter, and in line with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The police said movement within Dawakin Kudu LGA would be restricted from 12:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, covering the period of voting and the immediate electoral activities.
However, the command said people performing essential duties would be allowed to move within the area, provided they had valid means of identification.
Those exempted include officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, accredited election observers, medical personnel, firefighters and accredited journalists.
The police also released a series of security guidelines for political parties, candidates, supporters and other participants in the election.
One of the measures is a total ban on security aides and escorts attached to VIPs, political office holders and government functionaries from accompanying their principals to polling units and collation centres.
The command also warned that quasi-security outfits, vigilante groups and voluntary organisations would not be allowed to participate in the election security arrangement or loiter around polling units.
The police further prohibited the carrying of firearms and other dangerous weapons within and around polling and election venues.
According to the command, anyone found carrying arms or dangerous weapons in the designated election areas would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The police also warned against vote-buying, vote-selling and political canvassing around polling units.
The command said all forms of canvassing in the vicinity of polling units were strictly prohibited as part of measures to maintain order and ensure compliance with electoral regulations.
On access to election locations, the police said only accredited INEC officials, security personnel, election observers and journalists would be permitted into polling units and collation centres.
The command urged all political parties, candidates and their supporters to comply with the Electoral Act 2022, as amended, and conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.
The statement said the Kano Police Command, working with other agencies under the ICCES arrangement, had deployed personnel and operational assets to polling units, Registration Area Centres, collation centres and identified flashpoints across Dawakin Kudu LGA.
It added that joint patrol teams would enforce compliance with the security guidelines and respond promptly to any breach of peace.
The Commissioner of Police warned that anyone who violated the movement restriction or any of the election security guidelines would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The command also appealed to parents and guardians to caution their children and wards against allowing themselves to be used as political thugs before, during or after the election.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities or incidents that could threaten the peaceful conduct of the election.
Members of the public can contact the Kano Police Command through 08032419754, 08123821575 and 09029292926 in cases of emergency or to report suspicious activities.
The command assured residents of Dawakin Kudu and the wider Kano State population of its commitment to protecting lives and property and providing a secure environment for citizens to exercise their civic rights.
The restriction comes as voters in Dawakin Kudu State Constituency prepare to participate in the by-election, with security agencies expected to maintain order around polling units, collation centres and other sensitive locations throughout the exercise.
The police said its deployment would be conducted jointly with other members of the inter-agency election security framework, with particular attention to identified flashpoints and areas considered vulnerable to disruption.
West Trybe reports that the Kano State Police Command’s movement restriction covers Dawakin Kudu LGA from midnight to 5pm on September 19, with exemptions for identified essential personnel, while the command has also prohibited weapons, political canvassing, unauthorised security groups and VIP escorts at election locations as part of measures for the State Assembly by-election.
