A Federal High Court in Kano has dismissed 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 ruling came on Tuesday following a suit filed by Aminu Tiga and the All Progressive Congress (APC), with the State Attorney General and 14 others listed as defendants.
Delivering the judgment, Justice S.A. Amobede also ruled that Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of KANSIEC, was not a civil servant and thus ineligible for his position under section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.
The judge stated, “Whatever the eighth defendant is doing in preparation for the 2024 Local Government Election in Kano State, including the issuance of election guidelines and the sale of nomination forms, is null and void.” He further disqualified and removed Malumfashi and the other defendants from their roles, restraining them from conducting the upcoming elections until qualified individuals are appointed.
Justice Amobede directed law enforcement and security agencies to ensure compliance with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, emphasizing the importance of impartiality in the electoral process. Tiga had argued that Malumfashi and others were engaged in partisan politics, contravening constitutional provisions regarding the conduct of electoral officials.