By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Kano Independent Electoral Commission has issued certificates of return to the newly elected 44 Local Government Chairmen across the state.
The certificates were issued by the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Sani Malumfashi, on Sunday, as reported by Daily Trust.
Malumfashi noted that the commission has the mandate to issue the certificates and urged the newly elected LG chairmen and councillors to discharge their duties effectively.
“By the requirements of the electoral processes, the commission is still saddled with the responsibility of issuing certificates of return to the elected chairmen and councillors as the legitimate leaders of their local government areas. The commission has the mandate to do that.
“They are now charged with the responsibility of attending to the official needs of their respective LGAs,” Malumfashi said while issuing the certificates.
The report also stated that the state governor, Abba Yusuf, would soon swear in the chairmen at Government House in Kano.
The state electoral commission had declared the New Nigeria People’s Party the winner of all 44 chairmanship positions and the 484 councillorship positions in Saturday’s LG election in the state.
“Six political parties participated in the election: AA, AAC, Accord, ADC, APM, and NNPP.
“The NNPP won all 44 local government chairmanships and 484 councillorship positions contested,” Malumfashi said.
On Friday, October 25, 2024, the governor insisted there was no going back on the planned October 26 LG election, stating, “At this moment, the state will not allow anybody to destabilise the existing peace enjoyed by the citizenry.
“We have satisfied all the conditions laid down by the law and 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.”
This comes despite a Federal High Court judgment sacking the commission’s chairman for being a card-carrying member of a political party.