Ahead of the upcoming bye-election in the Kaura Namoda South constituency, the Zamfara State Government has sent a strong message to political parties—play fair and follow the rules.

The Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Dauda Lawal, Alhaji Iliyasu Maijega, spoke to journalists in Gusau, urging all parties to avoid vote buying and other forms of electoral malpractice.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 16 for the bye-election following the unfortunate death of the constituency’s former representative, Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar-Daji, in April.

Maijega emphasized that Governor Lawal’s administration remains committed to free and fair elections. He warned against attempts by political actors to buy Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) or influence voters through money or intimidation.

“Governor Lawal has zero tolerance for electoral malpractice,” he said. “We must allow the people to freely choose their leaders without any pressure.”

He also called on INEC to work closely with security agencies to ensure safety and order on election day, adding that peaceful and credible polls are everyone’s responsibility.

On the PDP’s chances in the election, Maijega expressed confidence, citing the government's achievements in education, healthcare, empowerment, and infrastructure over the past two years. He believes these efforts will earn the party strong support from voters.

In his words: “We trust the people will vote based on the impact they’ve seen in their communities.”

The bye-election promises to be a key political test—and all eyes will be on Zamfara to see how fairly the process unfolds.