The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) has brought forward its local government elections to October 26, 2024, from the previously scheduled date of November 30.
This adjustment comes in response to a Supreme Court deadline, as announced by KANSIEC Chairman Prof. Sani Malumfashi during a press briefing in Kano on Friday.
“We are aligning with the recent Supreme Court decision and the agreement between States and the Federal Government,” Prof. Malumfashi explained.
He also addressed the controversy surrounding the nomination fees set by the commission—N10 million for chairmanship and N5 million for councillorship positions.
Despite opposition parties describing these fees as prohibitive, Prof. Malumfashi stood firm on the decision, citing inflationary pressures and comparing the fees to those in other northern states.
Meanwhile, News About Nigeria reported that the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has scheduled its local government elections for January 18, 2025.
This decision, announced by ODIEC Chairman Dr. Joseph Aremo at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, comes after multiple postponements of the elections originally set for July 13, 2024.
Dr. Aremo clarified that the elections were not cancelled but rescheduled due to political parties’ non-compliance with electoral guidelines. The upcoming elections will cover all 18 local government areas and 203 wards in Ondo State.
He explained that the commission grew tired of continuous rescheduling, prompting the need for a new date.
Dr. Aremo assured residents of the state’s readiness to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, emphasising transparency.
He urged political parties that had already conducted primaries to submit their validated candidate lists to the commission.
“Election was never cancelled but rescheduled due to non-compliance of political parties with the electoral guidelines and processes,” NAN quoted Aremo as saying.
“The completion of political parties’ primaries and validation of candidates will take place from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7
“Dec. 9 will be the last day for the submission of forms for particulars of candidates and the list of candidates by political parties.”
