By Atlantic Reports

A total of 449 candidates are contesting 40 seats in the Kano State House of Assembly in the 2027 general elections, according to the final candidate list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Only 13 of the candidates are women, representing about 2.9 per cent of the field. The remaining 436 are men, highlighting a substantial gender imbalance among those seeking legislative office.

The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, was published at the commission’s office in Kano on Monday.

Among the candidates is the Assembly Speaker, Alhaji Ismail Falgore-Jibril, who is seeking another term representing Rogo constituency on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

Nineteen Parties in the Contest

The candidates were drawn from Accord, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party and APC.

Other participating parties include the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, Labour Party and National Democratic Congress.

The remaining parties are the New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party and Zenith Labour Party.

The statewide total does not indicate how evenly candidates are distributed across the 40 constituencies.

Women Form a Small Minority

The named female candidates include Abasiyya Yahaya of Accord in Bebeji, Khadija Lawan-Ahmed of the African Action Congress in Gwale and Saudat Ibrahim of the Allied Peoples Movement in Kano Municipal.

Sha’awanatu Yusuf is contesting for Accord in Karaye, Zainab Umar for Action Alliance in Kumbotso and Karimatu Yahaya for Accord in Munjibir.

Others are Talatu Ishaya of the Allied Peoples Movement in Fagge, Hasina Muhammad of Accord in Sumaila and Aisha Lawan of APC in Tsanyawa/Kunchi.

Three women are listed for Ungogo: Na’ima Yahaya of the African Democratic Congress, Ramlatu Yahaya of the Peoples Democratic Party and Aishatu Adamu-Garba of the Peoples Redemption Party.

Amina Yahaya is contesting for Accord in Warawa.

The supplied constituency summary also mentions Kiru, but none of the 13 named female candidates is assigned to that constituency. That discrepancy requires clarification before a definitive constituency breakdown can be established.

INEC’s list contains candidates’ names, political parties, ages, gender and educational qualifications.

While the figures establish the low proportion of women on the ballot, they do not explain the factors behind it. The election outcome will determine whether that limited presence translates into representation in the next Assembly.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.