Kano: Supreme Court Forces Shift In Local Government Polls

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, on Friday, August 30, 2024, announced the downward review of the date for the forthcoming Local Council Election in the State.

The Election earlier scheduled to hold on November 30, 2024, will now take place on October 26, 2024.

The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Sani Malumfashi, who made this known at a media briefing in Kano, said the change is to align the elections with the mutual pact reached between States and the Federal Government on the modalities for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on Local Government Autonomy .

The Source reports that the Country’s apex Court had, on June 20, 2024, ruled to affirm the financial independence of the third tier of Government.

The Court, also, in the landmark verdict, prohibited the operation of the much abused States and Local Government joint Account JAAC, and ordered that accruals from the Federation Account should be remitted directly to Local Councils Accounts

The Supreme, Court, also, ordered the withholding of funds accruing to Councils being run by undemocratically elected officials.

However, to make for a smooth transition, a three- month window was agreed between the Federal Government and States before  implementing the Supreme court rulings, particularly as regards  the withholding of funds of  Councils under interim administration.

Only Penultimate week, the Federal Government constituted a Committee to oversee the   implementation of the Supreme Court verdict.

Going by the apex Court’s ruling, the window period will end October 2024.

Most Governors have been in a frenzy to organize Council Polls so as to avoid the stoppage of their Councils’ Federal Allocation.

“In recognitions and conformity with the recent Supreme Court decision, the mutual agreement between State and Federal Government, and upon the expiry of the October deadline on Local Government Autonomy, the  Commission is compelled to reschedule the Local Government Election to October 26,2024”, Prof Malumfashi stated.