Gov Yusuf Says Kano LG Polls Must Hold, As Group Accuses Judge of Undermining Democracy
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has said that Tomorrow’s Local Government elections in the state will hold as planned, despite the court ruling prohibiting the process.
Yusuf said the State Government through the State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) had satisfied all conditions for the conduct of the polls.
He made remarks while presenting flags to candidates of the ruling NNPP contesting in the election,at the Sani Abacha Stadium,Kano on Thursday evening.
“We have satisfied all the conditions laid down by the law and we have completed all necessary preparations for the conduct of the elections on Saturday,as such,the polls must take place as planned.
“We are aware of plans by enemies of the state to truncate this election, but by the grace of Allah,they will not succeed; the elections will be conducted peacefully and credibly,” Yusuf said.
Meanwhile,a civil society group, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), in collaboration with the Organization for Community and Civic Engagement (OCCEN) and Citizens Voice Against Corruption, has accused a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, of consistently undermining the state’s democratic processes.
Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya, the Convener of the group,who made the accusation while addressing newsmen in Kano on Thursday, also accused the Judge of disrespecting the culture and traditions of the people of the state.
The group was reacting to Justice Amobeda’s ruling against KANSIEC, prohibiting it from conducting the local government elections.
“This decision directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s directive that all states must hold local government elections before the end of October,”Wayya said.
He alleged that “Justice Amobeda’s actions tantamount to truncating democracy and frustrating the government’s efforts to conduct free and fair elections.”
According to the group,the judiciary is being used to truncate democracy, describing as an unfortunate, Justice Amobeda’s ruling against KANSIEC banning it from conducting the local government elections, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that all states must conduct their local government elections before the end of October.
