October 22, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court sitting in Kano has restrained the state Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting the local government election scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024.
In a judgement delivered by Justice Simon Amobeda on Tuesday, the court also directed the police, DSS, and civil defence not to participate in or provide security for any local government elections in Kano until the leadership of KANSIEC is properly constituted.
The ruling follows a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one Aminu Tiga, challenging the legality of the Kano State government’s constitution of commissioners and the chairman of the state electoral commission.
In their originating summons, the plaintiffs argued that the KANSIEC commissioners and the chairman are members of the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), insisting their appointment contradicts the provisions of the Constitution and electoral laws.
Ruling on Tuesday, Justice Amobeda held that evidence before the court confirmed that the chairman, secretary of the commission, and the entire commissioners of KANSIEC were not properly constituted and, therefore, not fit to conduct the council election.
The court declared that until the members of KANSIEC are properly constituted in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution and electoral act, KANSIEC is prohibited from conducting elections in the 44 local government councils of Kano State.
