A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, sacked the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Prof. Sani Malumfashi, for being a member of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The case was filed by Aminu Tiga and the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The defendants in the suit are the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, and 14 others.
Delivering judgement, Justice S.A Amobede also held that the KANSIEC Secretary, Kabir Zakirai, was not a civil servant and therefore not an officer in the Kano State Civil Service.
Justice Amobede declared that Zakirai was not qualified to be appointed to the position pursuant to section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.
The judge said: “Whatever the eighth defendant is doing in preparation of the 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State such as issuance of election guidelines, circulars, screening of candidates, sale of nomination, and expression interest forms whichever and howsoever are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
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“That the eight to 14th defendants are forthwith disqualified and removed from their positions as chairman and members of the first defendant.
“That they are forthwith restrained from conducting the 2024 Local Government Election in respect of 44 Local Governments in Kano State until and unless qualified persons are duly appointed.”
Justice Amobede further directed the police and other security agencies to ensure full compliance with the provisions of sections 197 (1) (b), 199 (2), and 200 (1) (a)of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Tiga had argued that Malumfashi and others were members of the NNPP and in partisan politics contrary to section 197 (1) (b) and section 200 (1) (a) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
The local government election in Kano State has been slated for Saturday, October 26, 2024.
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