KANSIEC gets court backing for Saturday’s council elections

A Kano State High Court has upheld KANSIEC’s mandate to conduct council elections, as security agencies prepare to safeguard the polls amid movement restrictions for peaceful proceedings.
[files] A man votes at a polling station (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)
Justice Sanusi Ma’aji of the Kano State High Court on Friday gave a ruling upholding the constitutional powers of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to “conduct, supervise and hold local government elections” across the 44 LGAs.

In the ruling, the state high court also ordered security agencies to protect the life and property of citizens during the conduct of the election on Saturday.

READ MORE: KANSIEC vows to go ahead with Kano LG polls tomorrow

The police in the state which had stated earlier that they would comply with a previous Federal High Court order which directed them not to participate in the election, has also confirmed that they will be on ground to ensure safety of lives and properties in the state as their primary responsibility.

The order by Justice Ma’aji was filed by the state independent electoral commission against the All Progressives Congress and 13 other political parties challenging Saturday’s election.

Meanwhile, the Kano State government, in consultation with security agencies, has placed restriction of movement of persons and vehicles across the state from 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday.

According to the Commissioner of Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, the restriction is aimed at ensuring peaceful and orderly conduct of the Local Government elections which will be held in all 484 wards across the 44 LGAs of the state.

In a statement on Friday, Dantiye said, “Persons on official election duties and those engaged in essential services are however exempted from the restriction.

“All eligible voters are advised to come out to exercise the civic rights by participating peacefully in the electoral process to strengthen democracy in the state.”

The government, he said, reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and peaceful election, and therefore urges all citizens to comply with the movement restriction in the interest of public safety and electoral integrity.

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