20 APC candidates fail drug tests in Kano

PDP threatens to sue KANSIEC
Less than two weeks to council election in Kano State, about 20 candidates vying for elective posts failed drug tests

The state government had threatened to disqualify any candidate contesting chairmanship and councillorship positions across party lines found wanting.

A National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) source revealed that about 18 candidates were found to have taken illicit substances.

NDLEA screened chairmanship contestants and found six culpable. The remaining 12 were reportedly contesting for councillorship.

“We have submitted the names of those culpable in drug addiction to the state government and we are waiting for further directive,” the source revealed.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano confirmed the development, but vowed to challenge the outcome of the drug tests.

Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Zarina, told The Guardian that the party had resolved to repeat the test after two weeks.

Zarina, who claimed that some of the APC candidates tested positive were on prescription, maintained that the party might consider replacing candidates after the second test.

But Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) is yet to effect any disciplinary action on any of the candidates.

The Chairman, Professor Garba Sheka, had promised that drug addicts would not contest the elections.

MEANWHILE, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened to sue KANSIEC, if its logo appears on the electoral ballot.

The Organising Secretary of PDP and leader of Kwankwasiyya, Sanusi Kwankwaso, said as PDP was boycotting the poll, it would not tolerate the use of its logo by any faction.

“Anybody found using our logo will have to answer court invitation because we are ready to go to court to defend our party. The simple reason is that we are not participating in the election.”