FEDERAL HIGH COURT DISQUALIFIES KANSIEC CHAIRMAN OVER PARTISAN POLITICS 21-10-24
By Sadiq Aminu A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has disqualified Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi as Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) due to his membership in a political party.
Justice Simon Amobeda delivered the verdict in a suit filed by Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The defendants in the suit included KANSIEC, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Kano State, INEC, and several individuals, including Anas Muhammad Mustapha, Mukhtar Garba Dandago, Isyaku Ibrahim Kunya, Kabir Jibril Zakirai, and Amina Inuwa Fagge.
According to the ruling, the 9th to 14th defendants, who are card-carrying members of the New Nigeria’s People Party (NNPP), are not qualified to serve as Chairman and Members of KANSIEC due to their involvement in partisan politics you This contravenes sections 197 (1) (b) and 200 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.
This decision highlights the importance of maintaining impartiality in electoral commissions to ensure free and fair elections.