The Court of Appeal in Abuja has scheduled April 8 for the hearing and resolution of legal challenges arising from the contested local government elections in Kano State, covering all 44 local government areas.
This decision follows the resolution of multiple motions and notices linked to the central legal disputes.
The Kano State House of Assembly, which has been actively challenging the legal block on the elections, is pushing for the annulment of a ruling by the Federal High Court in Kano that has kept the elections on hold since October 2024.
Represented by senior advocate Adegboyega Awomolo, the Assembly argues that the Federal High Court exceeded its jurisdiction and that the suit brought by Aminu Tiga and the All Progressives Congress (APC) was filed past its legal deadline. Furthermore, they contend that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the election process.
On October 22, 2024, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court ruled to prevent the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting elections for local government councillors and chairpersons.
Justice Amobeda based his decision on claims that KANSIEC members were affiliated with the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), violating constitutional provisions.
The judge also prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the national voter register to KANSIEC for the elections and barred security agencies, including the police and DSS, from offering protection during the elections.
In response, the Kano State House of Assembly has approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to reverse the Federal High Court’s findings, asserting that the matter falls solely under the jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court and should not be adjudicated by a federal court. The Assembly’s legal team argues that the local government election process is a state affair and should be handled accordingly.
The appeal’s outcome could significantly impact the political landscape of Kano, as the state braces for the eventual resolution of this legal drama surrounding its local government elections.
