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The Kano State High Court has asked the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KAANSIEC) to proceed with the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, October 26.
Naija News reported that the order contradicts an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court in Kano that questioned the composition of the electoral commission.
In a judgment on Friday, October 25, Justice Sanusi Maji, who was responding to a lawsuit filed by KAANSIEC against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 13 other political parties, said KAANSIEC has no control over its management, supervision and operations. The court ruled that it had the legal authority to do so. Local government elections will be held across the 44 local government areas of the state.
Judge Maazi also stressed that any attempt to interfere with the electoral process is null and void.
The judge also directed security forces to ensure the safety of voters and the protection of their persons and property during the election period, scheduled for October 26.
Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano blocked the election over concerns that the KANSIEC chairman is a member of the state’s ruling NNPP party.
The early decision sparked alarm among state officials and civil society organizations, who said it violated Kano’s democratic rights.
However, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf rejected this decision and announced that the elections would be held as scheduled.
