“No Retreat, No Surrender On  Conduct Of Kano LG Polls” – Gov Abba

By Ayodele Oni

Despite a subsisting court order which put the conduct of local government election on hold in Kano state, Governor Abba Yusuf has insisted that the poll will hold as scheduled on Saturday.

The governor has presented Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) Flags to 44 chairmanship candidates of the party for the council poll slated to hold on Saturday, October 26.

A Federal High Court in Kano had sacked the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission(KANSIEC), Sani Malumfashi.

The Court ruled on Tuesday that Malumfashi is a card-carrying member of the Ruling New Nigeria People’s Party(NNPP).

The case was filed by Aminu Tiga and the All Progressive Congress (APC), with the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, and 14 others as defendants.

Delivering judgment, Justice S.A Amobede, also held that Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of the commission was not a civil servant and therefore not an officer in the Kano State Civil Service.

The judge maintained that Zakirai was not qualified to be appointed to the position pursuant to section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.

“Whatever the eighth defendant is doing in preparation of the 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State such as issuance of election guidelines, circulars, screening of candidates, sale of nomination and expression interest forms whichever and howsoever are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

According to a Statement by the governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf reiterated that, “no retreat, no surrender over the conduction of the polls on Saturday.”

The Governor emphasized that, “the state at this moment would not allow anybody to destabilize the existing peace being enjoyed by the citizenry.

“The state government and Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) have all the constitutional backing to hold the election. No one will stop the KANSIEC from holding the polls.”

He stressed that the government is ready to swear-in the candidates declared winners by the electoral body.

The Governor then urged NNPP card-carrying members to go back to their respective wards and prepare well for the election, describing them as real supporters of the party.

On his part , the Acting National Chairman of NNPP, Dr. Audu Ajuji who came from Abuja, hoped that the election would be peaceful, adding that the party is comfortable to sweep all the elective positions without any hitches.

In his remarks, the state NNPP Chairman, Alhaji Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa described the gathering as outstanding, adding that, “the party is here to stay beyond 2027.”

Dungurawa added that, “the party is delighted for the presentation of the flags to the bearers who are very loyal to the party.”