The chairman and members of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, or KANSIEC, have been barred by a Federal High Court in Kano from holding the state’s planned local government elections.
The court determined that the chairman of KANSIEC and other Commission members are not public officials beyond grade level 14 and are card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party, or NNPP.
The Kano LG elections, which are set for Saturday, October 26, 2024, are just four days away.
While rendering a decision in a case brought by Aminu Aliyu Tiga, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), against KANSIEC, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, and fourteen other parties, the court, presided over by Justice S.A. Amobede, made the statement.
“The defendants are not qualified to be the Chairman and Members of the Defendant, (KANSIEC) because they are card-carrying members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) and are involved in partisan politics in violation of Sections 197 (1) (b) and 200 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001,” he said.
“Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of the Commission, is not qualified to be appointed to the position pursuant to Section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001, as he was not an officer in the Kano State Civil Service below the rank of Director prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Commission,” the judge further declared.
The judge further stated that “the 1st Defendant (KANSIEC), whose membership was formed in violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) Sections 197 (1)(b) and 200 (1)(a) and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001, cannot legitimately and competently conduct Local Government Election 2024 in respect of 44 Local Governments in Kano State until and unless qualified persons are duly and legally appointed as chairman and members of the commission in accordance with the applicable extent law.”
Justice Amobede also declared that all of the Commission’s actions, including issuing election guidelines, circulars, screening candidates, and selling nomination and expression interest forms, are void and have no bearing whatsoever on the 2024 Kano State Local Government Election.
“The defendants are forthwith disqualified and removed from their positions as chairman and members of the Commission.
“The 1st defendant (KANSIEC) is forthwith restrained from conducting 2024 Local Government Election in respect of 44 Local Governments in Kano State until and unless qualified persons are dully appointed.
“Until and unless the provisions of sections 197 (1) (b), 199 (2), and 200 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and sections 4 (b) and 14 (1) of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001 are fully complied with in the appointment of qualified persons as Chairman and Members of the 1st Defendant,” the judge continued, “the defendants are mandated forthright not to participate and monitor the conduct of Local Government Election 2024 in Kano State.”
The police and other security forces were instructed by Justice Amobede to immediately guarantee complete adherence to the decision.
