The Majority Leader in the Kano State House of Assembly, Lawal Husseini Chediyar Yan Gurasa has insisted that the Local Government election will hold despite a Federal High Court ruling halting the election.
Recall that the Federal High Court had in its ruling, dissolved the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) due to claims of partisanship.
But speaking on Thursday, the Majority leader insisted that the election would hold as planned by the State Government.
This is even as Daily Trust reported preparations were in full swing at the State electoral office on Wednesday.
DAILY TRUST reported that lists of ad hoc staff were posted, and prospective candidates were seen verifying their names.
The news medium stated that on of the applicants from Dala Local Government Area, Hauwa Muhammad, expressed her eagerness to contribute. This is even as she stated that she needed the job.
“It was also observed that security at the KANSIEC office was tight. With Nigerian Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) operatives monitoring visitors closely.” DAILY TRUST stated.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Chediyar Yan Gurasa dismissed concerns about the election being halted.
He said, “Nothing will stop us from conducting the election. This judgment has not affected us. Because we already have an order from the Kano State High Court restraining 19 political parties from stopping the election.”
The Majority leader added that the election would be conducted with or without police presence. He, therefore, insisted that patriotic citizens would protect the ballot boxes.
Daily Trust reports that his position is similar to what transpired during the Rivers State LG election. The court had asked police not to provide security for the elections but the State Government went ahead with the election notwithstanding.
However, in the Kano State case, there is speculation about a change in who will announce the results. This is following that the court had sacked the KANSIEC Chairman, Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi.
Speaking on the development, a Kano-based legal practitioner, Abba Hikima, criticized the State Government for allowing this legal situation to arise. He noted that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over the appointment of KANSIEC members.
He said, “The subject matter is outside the stipulations of Section 251 of the Constitution.”
Hikima, however, blaming the State Government for creating loopholes that the opposition capitalized on.
Another lawyer, Umar Danbaito, is of the view that KANSIEC should obey the court order. He pointed out that at best, it should challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Danbaito noted that it is settled law that court orders must be followed unless overturned by a higher court.
Supporting the view of Danbaito, a political scientist, Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge from Bayero University Kano, warned that defying the court order. He stated that it could lead to further legal challenges.
He also cited past incidents in Rivers State as a precedent.
Prof Fagge also highlighted the risk of violence due to the absence of security personnel during the elections.
source: Daily Trust
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U