Kano LG polls: CSOs affirm KANSIEC’s adherence to electoral guidelines
Voters queue to vote in the presidential and parliamentary elections, at a polling station at the Malkohi refugee camp in Jimeta, Adamawa State, on February 23, 2019. Malkohi is an internal displaced camp for people who fled their homes from areas affected by the conflict with the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram. - Nigerians began voting for a new president on February 23, after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence. Some 120,000 polling stations began opening from 0700 GMT, although there were indications of a delay in the delivery of some materials and deployment of staff, AFP reporters said. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUIS TATO/AFP/Getty Images)
The network of civil society organisations in Nigeria said the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) complied with electoral guidelines.
Presenting a report, the convener of the network, Victor Kalu, who spoke on behalf of the CSOs and CBO’s, said that the turnout was impressive and also the conduct of the election was in compliance with electoral guidelines.
He commended the state government and KANSIEC under the leadership of Prof. Sani Malumfashi for a successful and well-organised election.
Receiving the report, Mr Malumfashi, appreciated the CSOs and urged them to continue their work to sustain democracy in Nigeria.
”Your presence added so much value to the just concluded local government elections.
“We are not unaware of the fact that you contributed towards the success of the election.
“Please continue the struggle of entrenching democracy in Nigeria, one day it will be better for us in this country
“You strongly prevented an attempt to truncate our activities by preventing the constitutional mandate,” he explained.
KANSIEC announced that the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP has won the 44 local governments in the council elections conducted on Saturday.
Mr Malumfashi made the declaration in Kano at the end of the collation exercise.
He said, the state electoral body has exercised and observed its constitutional mandates of planning, organising, coordinating, observing and conducting local government elections in Kano state of Nigeria.
Mr Malumfashi explained that, “Six Political Parties participated: AA, AAC, ACCORD, ADC, APM, and NNPP.”
“NNPP won all 44 Local Government Chairmanship and 484 Councillorship Positions contested.”
Mr Malumfashi said the exercise had been largely peaceful and successful in all ramifications.
”The commission therefore deeply appreciates the roles played by the critical stakeholders, notably Security Agencies, Media organisations, Leaders of Political Parties, Civil Society organisations, Religious Leaders, Community Leaders, Youth and Women organisations, towards the actualization of grass root. Democracy in the State.”
He thanked the people of Kano for participating.
“The commission is also profoundly grateful to the good people of Kano State for their collective support, prayers and expression of positive emotions.
“The peaceful conduct of the exercise is a doubtless manifestation of public acceptability of the exercise in terms of credibility, fairness and decency,” Mr Malumfashi added.
(NAN)
