Kano High Court Gives Go-Ahead for October 26 Local Elections
A recent ruling by the Kano State High Court has cleared the way for the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to move forward with the scheduled local government elections on Saturday, October 26. This decision is significant, as it reverses a previous Federal High Court ruling that had raised concerns about the composition of the electoral panel.
Justice Sanusi Ma’aji, in his ruling, emphasized that KANSIEC is vested with the legal authority to manage, oversee, and conduct local government elections in the state’s 44 local government areas. The court also issued a stern warning, dismissing any attempts to interfere with the electoral process as null and void.
In addition, the judge directed the security forces to ensure the safety of voters and the protection of individuals and property throughout the election, which is scheduled to take place on October 26.
This decision is a departure from a Tuesday ruling by Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano, who had suspended the election over concerns about the KANSIEC chairman being a member of the ruling NNPP in the state. This earlier decision had sparked criticism from state officials and civil society organizations, who argued that it compromised the democratic rights of the people of Kano.
In response, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has reiterated that the election will proceed as planned.
