The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has confirmed that local government election across the state’s 44 areas will proceed today despite a boycott by the main opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANSIEC chairman, Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, announced the commission’s decision on Friday shortly after the Kano State High Court upheld its authority to conduct the election.
Justice Sanusi Ma’aji issued the ruling on Friday in response to a legal suit filed by KANSIEC against the APC and 13 others, affirming the commission’s mandate to proceed with the election as scheduled.
This ruling comes on the heels of a Federal High Court decision earlier in the week, which temporarily halted the election and dissolved the KANSIEC.
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On Tuesday, Justice Simon Amobeda ordered the suspension of the election, citing procedural irregularities.
With this new order from the state High Court, the KANSIEC said it had gained legal clearance to move forward with the poll.
Following the decision on Friday, Professor Malumfashi highlighted the court’s jurisdiction over issues relating to state and local government matters, emphasising its ruling as definitive.
“We already had a pre-existing order restraining any group from disrupting our constitutional mandate to conduct the election,” Malumfashi said.
He called for the ruling to be respected and reiterated KANSIEC’s authority to conduct and declare the results of the election.
He also warned against illegal activities, including vote-buying, underage voting and attempts to bribe election officials, underscoring KANSIEC’s commitment to maintaining election integrity.
The police, described as critical stakeholders, have been asked to ensure security at polling units and throughout the election process based on the latest court order.
He said that while the APC opted out, other parties, including the Action Alliance, Zenith Labour Party, Accord Party, African Action Congress, National Rescue Movement, and the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) remained in the race. Initially, the KANSIEC anticipated 19 political parties to participate; however, with APC’s withdrawal, the number has reduced significantly.
APC’s decision to boycott stems from its refusal to submit candidates’ names and its legal challenges against KANSIEC’s composition.
In one lawsuit, the APC argued that KANSIEC’s chairman and five commissioners were ineligible to oversee an impartial election due to their affiliation with the NNPP. The Federal High Court agreed with APC’s position, ruling that KANSIEC’s leadership lacked the necessary neutrality for conducting a fair election.
The APC also raised objections regarding the commission’s imposition of nomination fees, set at N9 million for chairmanship candidates and N4 million for councillorship candidates. While the court acknowledged KANSIEC’s legal right to set such fees, Justice Amobeda ruled that the fees were invalid due to the commission’s lack of legal standing as the composition of the KANSIEC was deemed unlawful.
Discussing APC’s withdrawal from the election, Professor Malumfashi noted, “The major party that petitioned the commission has excluded itself from the race. Despite multiple discussions to resolve their concerns, the APC refused to submit candidates’ names or engage in the electoral process, effectively removing itself from the contest.”
Holding the election is invitation to anarchy – APC
Reacting to the KANSIEC and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s declaration that the election would go on as planned, the Kano State APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, urged them to desist from taking any action that could lead to breakdown of law and order in the state.
The APC called on the state government to adhere to the directive of the Federal High Court, noting that the call by the governor on NNPP supporters to ignore the court directive was a “clear case of invitation to anarchy and lawlessness.”
The APC said, “The governor should simply respect the laws. As law-abiding citizens interested in the growth of our dear state, the governor should desist from any act that could throw the state into chaos. Inciting people to take laws into their own hands is not the hallmark of good leadership.”
Court nullifies NNPP’s candidates list
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Kano has nullified the candidacy of the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s 44 local government chairmanship and councillorship candidates submitted to the KANSIEC for Saturday’s election.
The judgement follows a suit by Muhammad Babayo, an engineer, and a faction of the NNPP against multiple defendants, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), KANSIEC, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Simon Amobeda ordered the KANSIEC to accept the list submitted by NNPP’s recognised state chairman, Dalhatu Shehu Usman.
The court directed KANSIEC to reject any alternate list for the October 26 election and ordered the police and the DSS not to provide security for the planned election.
Speaking to Weekend Trust after the court’s decision, Usman said what it meant was that, “If the NNPP wins the election, it means our candidates win.”
But Hashimu Dungurawa, the chairman of the NNPP faction loyal to Governor Yusuf said the Federal High Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter, and that the party is looking for the factional chairman, Dalhatu Shehu Usman with a view to arrested him for misrepresenting the party.
Govt restricts movement for 18 hours
Meanwhile, the Kano State Government has announced a movement restriction across the state ahead of today’s election.
The restriction, effective from midnight to 6 p.m. on Election Day aims to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, said in a statement that the precautionary measure was to guarantee the safety of lives and property during the elections.
“Only essential services personnel, including election officials, security personnel, and accredited journalists, are exempt from the restriction.
“The government urges the public to comply with the directive and coperate with security agencies.
“Residents are encouraged to exercise their civic rights peacefully and avoid disrupting the election”, he said.
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