Repeat of Rivers in Kano as court bars KANSIEC from conducting LG Election {SEE WHY}

By OUR REPORTER, Kano

Tiga challenged the KANSIEC chiefs’ eligibility, citing their affiliation with the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and their failure to meet civil service grade requirements.

The Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has disqualified the Chairman and Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) members from conducting the October 26, 2024 local government election in the state.

Justice S.A. Amobede, who presided over the court, delivered the ruling on Monday, in response to a suit filed by Aminu Aliyu Tiga, a member of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tiga challenged the KANSIEC chiefs’ eligibility, citing their affiliation with the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and their failure to meet civil service grade requirements.

In his judgement, Justice Amobede ruled that the chairman and other members of the Commission were unfit for their roles.

“The defendants being card-carrying members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and in partisan politics contrary to Section 197 (1) (b) and Section 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, are not qualified to be the Chairman and Members of the Defendant, (KANSIEC),” the judge declared.

Furthermore, the court disqualified Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of KANSIEC, citing his ineligibility for the position due to his previous civil service rank.

“Kabir Zakirai, not being an officer in the Kano State Civil Service not below the rank of Director before he was appointed Secretary of the Commission, is not qualified to be appointed to the position under Section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001,” Justice Amobede ruled.

The judgement also invalidated all previous actions taken by the Commission in preparation for the election, including the issuance of election guidelines, screening of candidates, and sale of nomination forms.

“Whatever the Commission did or has done or is doing in preparation for the 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State such as issuance of election guidelines, circulars, screening of candidates, sale of nomination and expression interest forms, whichever and howsoever, are null and void and of no effect whatsoever,” the court stated.

The ruling further prevents the Commission from conducting the local government elections in Kano’s 44 local government areas until qualified persons are appointed to the commission.

“The 1st Defendant (KANSIEC) cannot validly 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,” the judge declared.

In addition, the court directed law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the ruling, ordering that the defendants be disqualified and removed from their roles immediately. “The defendants are forthwith disqualified and removed from their positions as chairman and members of the Commission,” Justice Amobede ruled.

Reactions

In the meantime, concerned Nigerians reacting to the court’s decision on Tuesday viewed it as a repeat of what a Federal High Court in Abuja did in allegedly aiding Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and close ally of President Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) to upturn the Saturday October 5, 2024 similar LG elections against the Siminalayi Fubara-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s government of Rivers State.

National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has been at loggerhead with his predecessor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and successor, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over the control of Kano politics since his party, APC, lost out of power in 2023.

As of the time of filing this report Tuesday evening, former Governor Kwankwaso and Govenor Yusuf were yet to react to the judgment.