The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has won all 44 chairperson seats in Kano’s local government elections held on Saturday, marking a decisive victory for the party across the state. The Kano Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) chair, Sani Malumfashi, officially announced the results, praising the peaceful and orderly nature of the election process.
“We are pleased to announce that the NNPP has won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats across the 44 local government areas,” Malumfashi stated from the state capital. “The election was conducted in a transparent and orderly manner, and we did not receive any reports of violence.”
The local government election proceeded despite multiple legal challenges. Days before the election, a federal high court in Kano issued an injunction, barring Malumfashi from conducting the October 26 polls. The court, presided over by Justice Simon Amobede, ruled that Malumfashi, being a registered NNPP member, was “unqualified” to oversee the elections, raising questions of bias. The injunction was filed by Aminu Tiga, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, who argued that Malumfashi and several KANSIEC officials were NNPP affiliates and did not meet civil service grade requirements.
However, the situation took a turn when a Kano state high court ruled on Friday in favor of KANSIEC proceeding with the elections. Justice Sunusi Ado-Ma’aji ruled that the constitution empowers KANSIEC to conduct and supervise local government elections, upholding the commission’s mandate despite the federal court ruling. This judgment followed an ex parte application filed by KANSIEC.
Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf, voiced strong support for the elections, condemning opposition attempts to obstruct the process. “We have met all legal requirements and are fully prepared for the elections to proceed as scheduled,” Yusuf said. He added that “enemies of the state” were attempting to “truncate this election,” but pledged his administration’s commitment to democracy and fair representation at the local level.
The NNPP’s victory secures the party’s influence across all local government areas in Kano, a development that is likely to affect political dynamics within the state, especially with tensions running high in Kano’s political circles. The election’s conclusion marks a significant win for the NNPP, cementing its hold on Kano’s political landscape amidst ongoing scrutiny.
