LG Poll: Kano Govt Reduces Nomination Fees

Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has reduced the fees for forms to contest for both chairmanship and councillorship positions in the upcoming local government elections in the state.

The commission said candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship positions will now pay N9 million and N4 million respectively as against N10 million and N5 million earlier pegged for the positions.

KANSIEC chairman, Prof Sani Malumfashi, announced the reduction yesterday at a press briefing, stating that the commission is law-abiding and complying with a court order restraining the commission from imposing the fees.

The fee reduction followed a court restraint in favour of three political parties who had secured an order to stop KANSIEC from charging such a high price for forms.

While explaining that the forms are now available in banks, Prof Malumfashi noted that the fee is also applicable to running mates of the chairmanship position.

“Primary elections are expected to end by tomorrow according to the elections timetable and we expect parties to submit the names of their candidates.

“By Monday, the candidates can purchase their nomination forms from the banks as everything has been made ready for them,” he said.

Malumfashi reminded the contestants that they are going to go through some tests including drug tests from the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as well as the psychiatric tests to determine their mental state.

He further explained that there are states like Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Kaduna that sold their forms at N20 million, N20 million and N10 million respectively adding that the commission is only exercising its rights as provided by the law.

He admonished them to play according to the rules, advising that their campaigns should be issue-based and not attacks.

The local government elections will be held on October 26.