The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has announced that six political parties will participate in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, having met all necessary requirements.
This announcement was made by KANSIEC Chairman Sani Malumfashi during an emergency press briefing on Friday, following a ruling from the Kano State High Court that permitted the commission to proceed with the electoral process.
Malumfashi noted that the major opposition party in the state has declined to recognize the commission and its activities. He confirmed that only six political parties have complied with the commission’s requirements and submitted their candidates.
The participating parties are the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Accord Party (AP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), African Action Congress (AAC), and Action Alliance (AA), out of a total of 19 registered parties.
He explained that these six parties have paid their dues, conducted primary elections, and provided the commission with their candidate lists. “The parties participating in the local government elections are NNPP, ZLP, Accord Party, NRM, AAC, and AA. They have adhered to all election guidelines and completed their primaries and related processes,” he stated.
Malumfashi emphasized that the elections are constitutional, referencing a Supreme Court ruling that recognized only elected local government council leaderships. The ruling also instructed the federal government and the Accountant General of the Federation to refrain from disbursing local government grants to unrecognized leaders.
He reiterated that both the federal and state governments have agreed to a deadline of October for all states to conduct their local government elections, despite some individuals attempting to disrupt the process.
The chairman urged the police to uphold the court ruling and ensure adequate security during the elections. He also called on the commission’s ad hoc staff to report to their polling stations promptly and maintain fairness throughout the electoral process.
Additionally, he warned against vote buying, bribery, violence, and underage voting to ensure a free and fair election.
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