At least 20 aspirants seeking elective offices in the upcoming local government elections in Kano State have tested positive for multiple drugs, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Abubakar Idris Ahmad, the NDLEA commander in Kano State, disclosed the findings to newsmen on Tuesday, September 2024.
Ahmad revealed that the affected aspirants, all members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), tested positive for various drugs, including opioids like codeine, THC (the active ingredient in cannabis), benzodiazepines, and nicotine.
“So far, 20 aspirants presented to us by the ruling party (NNPP) in the state have tested positive for multiple drugs, and the exercise is ongoing,” Ahmad stated.
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He noted that while many of the aspirants tested positive for nicotine, it is up to the electoral commission to determine whether tobacco use should be considered disqualifying.
The NDLEA commander also mentioned that no female aspirants have tested positive for drugs thus far. He clarified that only the NNPP has submitted its aspirants for drug screening ahead of the submission of its candidates’ list to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), which will conduct final verifications for all candidates.
The local government elections in Kano State are scheduled for October 26, 2024, with 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship positions up for grabs across the state. Eighteen registered political parties are expected to participate in the elections.