The Kano State High Court in North West Nigeria has directed the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to go ahead with the conduct of local government elections scheduled for Saturday 26th October 2024.
The court in a judgement by Justice Sanusi Ma’aji, issued the order in a matter filed by the state independent electoral commission against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 13 other defendants.
The court held that, KANSIEC is empowered by the provisions of the Constitution to conduct, supervise, and hold local government elections across the 44 councils areas of the state.
Justice Ma’aji held that, any attempt to truncate the process of conducting the poll amounts to nullity.
The court also ordered the security agencies to as a matter of urgency, provide protection of life and property during and after the conduct of the election.
The Counsel to the plaintiffs, Rilwanu Umar SAN described the judgment as sound.
Reacting to the judgment, the counsel to the 7th defendants (APC), Nura Adamu said they were not challenging the power of the electoral body to conduct the election but the composition of the electoral body which contravenes the provision of the constitution and in provisions of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission laws 2001.
He said they will study the judgment and decide the next line of action.
Recall the Federal high court sitting in Kano and presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda earlier on Tuesday restrained the state Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC from holding the council poll after sacking the Chairman, secretary and commissioners of the agency.
Justice Amobeda also restrained INEC from issuing voter register to KANSIEC while ordering the security agencies including police, DSS and civil defense from participating in the proposed election.
Recall that the Federal High Court Kano precoded over by Justice Simon Amobeda on Tuesday stopped the conduct of the council election, noting that the state independent electoral commission was illegally constituted.
The court ruled that, the KANSIEC chairman and other members of the Commission are card carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and also are not civil servants above grade level 14.
The Court held that, the defendants being card carrying members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) and in partisan politics is contrary to the Section 197 (1) (b) and Section 200 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and are not qualified to hold such positions in the state electoral body.
Confidence Okwuchi
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