Kano State Government on Friday announced a movement restriction across the state ahead of Saturday Local Government elections. The restriction, effective from midnight to 6 p.m. on election day aims to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls.
The state Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, stated that this precautionary measure guaranteed the safety of lives and property during the elections.
“Only essential services personnel, including election officials, security personnel, and accredited journalists, are exempt from the restriction. The government urges the public to comply with the directive and cooperate with security agencies.
“Residents are encouraged to exercise their civic rights peacefully and avoid disrupting the election. Security agencies are on high alert across the 44 local government areas, with checkpoints established to monitor compliance,” he said.
Prof Lawal Malumfashi, Chairman of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) assured citizens of the commission’s readiness to conduct a credible election, urging voters to come out and cast their votes.
Malumfashi named the political parties participating in the council election as Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, among others.
“We are fully prepared to conduct free, fair and credible elections across the 44 Local Government Areas in the state”, he said.
He said that the government’s decision to impose movement restrictions was a necessary step to prevent violence and ensure voter safety.
Kano electoral commission promises free, fair LG polls
Meanwhile, the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has said it will conduct the upcoming local government elections in the State devoid of interference from any quarters.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Sani Malumfashi, said this while addressing newsmen at the commission’s headquarters on Friday in Kano. Malumfashi also said that the commission was determined to conduct free and fair local government elections.
He explained that the commission had scheduled Oct.26 for the chairmanship and councillorship elections into the 44 local governments in the state. He said that six registered political parties are participating in the elections scheduled for Oct.26 across the state.
According to him, six political parties are participating in the election including NNPP, ZLP, Accord Party, NRPM, AAC and AA. He, however, said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not participating in the elections.
“The commission will operate independently in conducting the local government elections in the state; nobody is going to interfere with our activities. Similarly, nobody should approach us with bribe. If people approach us with bribe we are going to expose them; we did it before, we will do it again,” Malumfashi warned.
He urged candidates in the elections to impress on their supporters to shun violence and cooperate with the commission to ensure smooth implementation of all electoral processes.
He said that vote buying was against the rules and regulations of the commission and that use of political thugs before,during and after the election is prohibitive.
The chairman also urged stakeholders such as politicians, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, CSOs, security agencies and the media to cooperate with the commission to make the election credible, peaceful and hitch-free
“We said no to bribery, vote-buying, and thuggery before during and after the elections’’, he said.
He also urged candidates partaking in the polls to preach peace to their supporters and warned against electoral malpractice during the exercise. He commended the he media in mobilising residents to participate in the elections.
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