CSOs condemn judiciary attempt to truncate LG election in Kano

By Aliyu Inuwa Mansir On Oct 25, 2024

Kano South, exclusion ,executive power — Group raises alarm over Kano South exclusion from executive power

A coalition of civil society organizations, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE) and the Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN) have raised serious concerns over the judiciary’s role in attempting to truncate local government elections in Kano State.

SolaceBase reports that at a news conference held on Thursday in Kano, both civil society organizations condemned judicial actions they believe are undermining democracy and governance in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the organizations, Comrade Ibrahim A. Waiya, Executive Director of CDE, expressed frustration over the judiciary’s involvement in hindering elections that were mandated by the Supreme Court.

“The judiciary is meant to protect citizens’ rights and support democracy, but instead, we are seeing it being used to block elections and stifle development in Kano State,” said Waiya.

He pointed out that some individuals within the judiciary are exploiting legal technicalities to prevent the local government elections from taking place in Kano.

Waiya emphasized the confusion stemming from contradictory court rulings, noting that the ongoing legal wrangling has not only delayed the election process but also threatens to squander the substantial resources already invested by the Kano State government in organizing the elections.

Both CDE and OCCEN called for a swift resolution to the legal disputes, urging judges to prioritize the interests of Kano’s over 20 million residents.

Waiya stressed that civil society organisations would hold those responsible for further disruptions accountable. “We will not sit idle and allow the peace and progress of Kano to be jeopardized for personal or political gain,” he stated.

The organizations also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter, warning that Kano’s volatile situation could have broader implications for national peace and security.

They urged the judiciary to respect the will of Kano’s people, whose desire for peace and democratic development is being threatened by political interference.