August 20, (THEWILL) – The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) says it will not reduce the nomination fees it fixed for the chairmanship and councillor positions to be contested during the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
The commission had fixed N10 million as nomination fees for the chairmanship position and N5 million for the councillorship slot, ahead of the polls.
The announcement of the charges had sent tongues wagging in the state, particularly in the opposition circles, with many aspirants describing the fees as “prohibitive.”
But the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Sani Lawan Malumfashi, dismissed the complaints, vowing that there is no going back on the fees.
Malumfashi said the commission fixed the fees having assessed the inflationary situation which is characterised by high prices of goods and services in the country.
He said if some sister States in the North
would fix their nomination forms fees in that range, he saw no reason why his commission should not fix such amounts.
However, the ruling party in the state, the NNPP, welcomed the nomination fees, describing the charges as appropriate and realistic.
According to its Chairman, Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, persons contesting for those local government positions should be financially sound, demonstrating the ability to manage financial resources effectively.
The commission had scheduled November 30 for the conduct of the elections.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
