A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has disqualified the chairman and members of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from overseeing the upcoming local government elections in the state.
The court determined that the KANSIEC chairman and other Commission members are card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and do not qualify as civil servants above grade level 14.
This ruling comes just four days before the scheduled Kano local government elections, set for Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Justice S.A. Amobede presided over the case, which was brought forth by Aminu Aliyu Tiga, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), against KANSIEC, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, and fourteen other respondents.
In his ruling, Justice Amobede declared that any actions taken by the Commission in preparation for the 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State—including the issuance of election guidelines, circulars, candidate screenings, and the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms—are null and void and hold no legal effect.
Justice Amobede further instructed the Police and other security agencies to ensure full compliance with the ruling.
