The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) announced on Friday that the state’s primary opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has opted out of the local government elections scheduled for Saturday.
Grassroots Parrot reports that KANSIEC Chairman Prof. Sani Lawan Malunfashi confirmed the APC’s boycott, noting that the party declined to engage in the commission’s electoral processes and guidelines.
“The main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has since pulled out of the race,” Prof. Malunfashi stated, adding that despite this decision, KANSIEC has completed all arrangements for the election.
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Six other political parties will participate in the elections, including the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Accord Party, National Rescue Movement (NRM), African Action Congress (AAC), and Action Alliance (AA).
Prof. Malunfashi emphasized that KANSIEC operates within legal bounds, clarifying, “Every activity of the Commission is procedural. We are not partisan.”
Prof. Malunfashi also called on KANSIEC staff and ad-hoc personnel to remain vigilant against electoral malpractices, including bribery and underage voting.
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Addressing political leaders, he stressed that vote-buying, thuggery, and violence are prohibited under Kano’s election regulations, urging candidates to respect the court’s ruling that affirmed KANSIEC’s authority to proceed with the election.
The Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Sanusi Ado Maaji, recently affirmed KANSIEC’s mandate to conduct the elections. KANSIEC had requested a ruling to prevent any party from obstructing the process, which the court granted, instructing law enforcement agencies to provide security during the polls.
Justice Maaji confirmed KANSIEC’s statutory authority, enabling the commission to carry out local government elections as planned, despite the APC’s withdrawal.