Kano: KANSIEC gets court backing to conduct LG election
Chairman of KANSIEC, Sani Malunfashi
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano
The chairman of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Prof. Sani Lawan Malunfashi, on Friday, told journalists that all arrangements have been concluded to conduct local government elections in the state on Saturday in line with the ruling of a state High Court on Friday.
He revealed that the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressive Congress (APC), has since pulled out of the race as they boycotted all electoral processes and guidelines set out by the Commission.
According to him, six political parties are participating in the election. He listed the parties as NNPP, ZLP, Accord Party, NRPM, AAC and AA.
The KANSIEC chairman insisted that the Commission is carrying out its activities under the ambits of the law, “every activities of the Commission is procedural. We are not partisan.”
He further urged KANSIEC staff and ad-hoc staff to resist any temptation of bribery and ensure that under-age children are not allowed to vote.
Prof. Malunfashi also reminded politicians that vote-buying, thuggery and other forms of violence contravene the state electoral guidelines.
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He maintained that the expectations of all democrats and lovers of democracy is that the Friday’s Kano High Court judgement that gave a nod for the election to hold be respected.
Our Correspondent reports that earlier on Friday, Kano State High Court Number 15 affirmed the jurisdiction of KANSIEC to conduct Kano State Local government polls, slated to hold on Saturday.
In his judgment, Justice Sanusi Ado Maaji averred that the Applicant (KANSIEC) have proved their case.
Our Correspondent reports that KANSIEC had approached the court seeking the Court to perpetually restrain the Defendants (APC) from obstructing the local government electoral process.
He ruled that the Commission was established by the law that gives her statutory mandate to conduct election.
The Court also ordered police to provide security during the exercise.
