Kano LG election will hold, NNPP will win, Assembly leader vows

The Kano State House of Assembly has assured residents that the local government election will hold as scheduled for next Saturday despite a judgement of the Federal High Court.

Justice Simon Amobeda earlier on Tuesday restrained the state Independent Electoral Commission (KASIEC) from holding the council poll after sacking the chairman, secretary, and commissioners of the agency.

The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from issuing the voter register to KASIEC and ordered security agencies, including the police, Department of State Security (DSS), and civil defence, not to participate in the proposed election.

Reacting to the development, however, the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Lawan Hussaini, insisted that the court’s verdict was not unexpected due to the consistent interference of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election process.

The lawmaker, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday evening, expressed concern that the judiciary was attempting to disrupt a smooth democratic process in Kano.

He insisted that the election must hold without the involvement of the police and DSS, as directed by the court. Hussaini criticised the judgement, questioning why the Federal High Court would override a matter already before the State High Court.

“Honestly, this did not come as a surprise. We knew APC in Kano and at the national level. Their efforts daily are to disrupt democracy and bring harm to the country. We were prepared for this judgement because we knew it would happen this way— we’ve heard them repeatedly.

“We approached a competent court with jurisdiction under Justice Ma’aji and filed our case on 13 political parties, including the APC, to prevent any action that could interfere with the election.

“No political party can stop what is due to happen, and the Supreme Court has ruled that every state must conduct elections before the end of this month. We anticipated this, and that’s why we got the order.

“The court that delivered this judgement is not superior to the one that issued the restraining order. We want to assure the people of Kano State that this judgement does not affect us and will not stop us.

“The court restrained the police and Civil Defense from offering their services, and we agreed. We are calling on our followers, party loyalists, and everyone to provide security at all polling units. We will conduct the elections, and only the will of God can stop us.

“We will hold the election, and the APC didn’t even enter the contest because they know nobody will vote for them. They have no supporters. No retreat, no surrender— the people of Kano will come out to elect the leaders they want from our party, NNPP Kwankwasiyya. Nobody will stop us. It will be peaceful. Vigilantes and others will secure the polling units.” Hussaini vowed.