APC Moves To Court, Urging Suspension Of Kano Local Government Elections

APC Moves To Court, Urging Suspension Of Kano Local Government Elections

The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has initiated legal action against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) in a bid to halt the local government elections scheduled for October 26. The party is seeking to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register for these elections.

The lawsuit, filed by APC and its Chairman Abdullahi Abbas through their attorney, Ismail Abdulaziz, includes a request for an interlocutory injunction to stop KANSIEC from continuing with the election process. Defendants in the case include the Kano State Attorney General, KANSIEC, INEC, the Attorney General of the Federation, KANSIEC Chairman Sani Lawan, and other commission members.

In the filing, Abdulaziz stated, “We are asking the court to interpret provisions of the Constitution, KANSIEC guidelines, and relevant laws to determine whether KANSIEC operates as a revenue-generating agency, especially in light of the exorbitant fees of N9 million and N4 million imposed on chairmanship and councillorship candidates.” He further emphasized that the APC seeks clarity on KANSIEC’s ability to conduct impartial elections given the current composition of the commission.

Additionally, the APC is requesting a court order to prevent INEC from providing election materials, including the voter register, to KANSIEC until the commission complies with constitutional requirements.

During a hearing presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, the court adjourned the matter until October 11, 2024, to allow all parties to file their responses.

In a related development, legal representatives for the Kano State government, Rilwanu Umar (SAN), and the Kano State House of Assembly, Bashir Yusuf, have submitted preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction over KANSIEC-related matters. They argue that only the state high court and the state Assembly have the authority to address issues concerning KANSIEC’s regulations, not a federal court.

This legal challenge follows motions filed by the APC and Aliyu Tiga seeking to stop the election process. Although Justice Amobeda initially declined to grant the request, he noted that the defendants must justify why the relief sought by the APC should not be granted. The court has since set a new hearing date for October 11 to continue the proceedings.

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