The Kano State Government has reaffirmed that local government elections will take place as planned on Saturday, October 26, despite a recent Federal High Court ruling that dismissed the chairman and members of the state’s independent electoral commission.
Governor Abba Yusuf made the announcement on Thursday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, where he presented flags to candidates representing the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
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He assured attendees that all legal and procedural requirements had been met for the elections to go ahead and expressed confidence that attempts to disrupt the process would fail.
“We are aware of plans by enemies of the state to truncate this election, but by the grace of Allah, they will not succeed; the elections will be conducted peacefully and credibly,” Yusuf declared.
In response to the court ruling, several civil society organizations expressed their dissatisfaction, accusing Justice Simon Amobeda of undermining the democratic rights of Kano State citizens. Ibrahim Waiya, the convener of Citizens for Development and Education (CDE) and spokesperson for allied groups including Citizens Voice Against Corruption and the Organization for Community and Civic Engagement (OCCEN), described the ruling as a significant setback for democracy.
Waiya contended that Justice Amobeda’s decision contradicted a Supreme Court directive mandating that all states conduct local government elections by the end of October. He alleged that the ruling was an attempt to hinder free and fair elections, stating that such interference disregards Kano’s culture and traditions.
Despite the court’s prohibition, the Kano State Police Command announced it would not engage in election-related duties but would focus on maintaining law and order. Police spokesperson SP Abdullahi Kiyawa confirmed this in a video statement, indicating that security forces would patrol the state to prevent any disruptions.
“We will comply with the court order restricting us from participation in the coming Kano State Local Governments Election. However, we will remain steadfast in fulfilling our constitutional mandate of protecting lives and properties,” Kiyawa stated. He also mentioned that Commissioner of Police Salmanu Garba has instructed operational commanders to conduct 24-hour patrols throughout the election period.
