Court sack Kano State Electoral Commission chairman 4 days to election

A Federal High Court in Kano on Tuesday removed Prof. Sani Malumfashi from his position as Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for being a card-carrying member of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

The case was brought forward by Aminu Tiga and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defendants included the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, and 14 others.

Justice S.A. Amobede, in delivering the judgment, ruled that Malumfashi and other members of the commission violated sections 197(1)(b) and 200(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits electoral officials from engaging in partisan politics. The court also found that Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of the commission, was not a civil servant and therefore ineligible to hold his position.

The court declared that all activities undertaken by the commission, including preparations for the 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State, were null and void. It further disqualified and removed the 8th to 14th defendants from their roles and restrained them from conducting the upcoming local government elections.

Justice Amobede directed law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with the ruling and constitutional provisions.

This judgment underscores the importance of neutrality in electoral commissions to ensure free and fair elections.