Local Government Election: Kano Reviews Downwards Nomination Fees As Opposition APC Confirms Participation

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC, on Friday September 13, 2024, announced that it has reduced nomination fees for aspirants for the October 24, local Council Polls .

This is is even as the leading opposition party in the State, the All Progressive Congress, APC, said it is fully ready to participate in  the election.

The Source reports that the Prof Sani Malumfashi-led KANSIEC, had, about three weeks ago, initially pegged the  chairmanship nomination fee at N10 million, while the sum of N5 million was to be paid by councilorship aspirants.

But following a restraining order obtained by three Political Parties against the price tag, the Commission, informed that the Chairmanship slot will now go for N9 million, while Councilorship aspirants will pay N4 million, rather than the earlier N5 million.

The three political parties had approached the Court praying that the fees which they considered to be exorbitant be reviewed downwards.

They had insisted that the amount so fixed by the KANSIEC will disenfranchise interested persons, particularly, from the opposition parties who may not have any means of raising the high nomination fees.

Addressing the Media on Friday in Kano, Prof Malumfashi stressed that although the Commission has the legal authority to fix the nomination fees, it has to comply with the restraining order from the Court.

The KANSIEC Chairman, noted that as a law abiding entity, it has to obey, despite having appealed against the restraining order.

This is just as he lauded the decision of the APC to participate in the Local Council Election.

According to Prof Malumfashi, the decision by the leading opposition APC to participate is a welcome development which ,also, underscores the opposition party’s confidence in the abilities of the Commission to deliver a free and fair polls.

Confirming the participation of the APC, in the election being midwifed by the Kano State Government-led New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, Prince Abdullahi Abbas, the APC Chairman in the State expressed the optimism that it will emerge victorious.

According to him, Kano State has always been the bastion of progressive politics and, with the philosophy and deep rooted nature of the APC in the State, he said victory is assured.

He, however, emphasized the need for a level playing ground for all parties.

“We are committed to ensuring full compliance with all electoral laws to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election..

“But all we are saying is let the State Independent Electoral Commission, provide a level playing ground for a smooth implementation of the electoral process during the October 24  Local Government election.

“We are mobilizing our teeming supporters across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

“We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure we participate in the election”,  the APC chairman stated.

He further informed that the party will soon be conducting primaries to elect its candidates for the polls.

The Kano State Local Council Election was originally planned to hold on November 30, 2024, but had to be brought forward to October 24.

Prof Malumfashi cited the need to align the Election with the Supreme Court order, which had scheduled end of October as the commencement date for the June 20 ,2024 verdict on Local Government autonomy.