The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, (KANSIEC), said that it has reached 95% of the election process and that it will be fully ready before the election day scheduled for Saturday, 16th January 2021.

The commission said the non-sensitive materials have been shared to the polling units while the sensitive ones are yet to be distributed for security purposes, until Friday evening.

KANSIEC chairman, Professor Garba Ibrahim Sheka, disclosed this to newsmen during a sensitization training for Civil Society election observers, which was organised by the Kano Civil Society Situation Room (KCSSR) in collaboration with the KANSIEC at Mambayya House in Kano.

He said the commission had made all the necessary arrangements for successful, free and fair election.

“One of the major objectives of every election is to ensure that it’s credible.

“And before an election become credible it must be free and fair.

“So, we are 95% ready as we have commenced sharing non sensitive materials so as to avoid any delay.

“I am happy that the Civil Society Organisations that are here to monitor this election are one of the major stakeholders in ensuring credibility of elections.

“Without you watching so many things can happen.

“So you are one of the pillars that will helps us to conduct free, fair and peaceful election,” he said.

‘PDP still participating’

Responding to a question whether PDP is still participating in the election, Professor Sheka said: “Certainly we are very careful with the PDP issue.

“The ballot papers are ready and PDP is there too.

“PDP is contesting and their candidates are there busy looking for support.

“So, as far as we are concern, PDP is part of the election. I don’t know of any faction, PDP is PDP.

“On their candidates’ names we just write PDP.

“There are 484 councillors contesting and 44 chairmen from the party.

“And there was no any letter, I did not receive any letter from any body either that he has withdrawing or he is not contesting.”

On their part, the leadership of CSOs, Abdullahi Waiya, charged the observers to be vigilant and observe carefully, adding they are just to observe and report what they see to the stakeholders.

Kano LG elections