Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has declared that the Saturday local government elections being conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) is illegal.
“The party’s stance is informed by a court order by Justice Simon Amobede of the Federal High Court, Kano, which still stands, and which has rendered the election null and voi,” a chieftain of the party, Rabi’u Bichi, told NAN.
“The judge ruled that the leadership of KANSIEC was partisan and biased towards the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the state.”
“Since the judgment has not been appealed, the APC considers any outcome of the election illegal,” he said.
The APC chieftain also pointed to a recent Federal High Court judgment that quashed all NNPP chairmanship candidates for the elections, which he said had further reinforced the party’s claims that the election is illegal.
He, however, urged all members of the party to exercise restraint and await the final outcome of the legal moves being made by the party to challenge the conduct of the polls.
Earlier, Chairman of KANSIEC, Prof. Sani Malumfashi. insisted that the commission was conducting its activities within the bounds of the law. “Every activity of the commission is procedural. We are not partisan,” he said.
He further urged KANSIEC staff and ad hoc staff to resist any temptation of bribery and ensure that underage children are not allowed to vote.
Malumfashi also reminded politicians that vote-buying, thuggery, and other forms of violence contravene the state’s electoral guidelines.
He stressed that all democrats and advocates of democracy are expected to respect Friday’s Kano High Court judgement, which authorised the election to proceed.
On Friday, Kano State High Court No. 15 affirmed KANSIEC’s jurisdiction to conduct the Kano State local government polls, scheduled to be held on Saturday, 24 October 2024.
In his judgment, Justice Sanusi Ado Maaji stated that the applicant successfully proved its case.
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