Kano LG polls: Security agencies read riot act to candidates, parties

By Bashir Mohammed

Kano

Security operatives in Kano State have warned candidates and political party leaders against resort to violence in the forthcoming Local Government elections billed for this Saturday.
Speaking at the Inter-security Agencies Forum, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, in Kano, yesterday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Rabi’u Yusuf, said politics is not about violence and thuggery but about meaningful campaigns to appeal the electorate.
Yusuf, who is the chairman of the forum, said the security agencies were prepared to provide level play ground without fear of intimidation or harassment, warning that whoever tries to scuttle the election would face the wrath of the law.
He called on the candidates and party leaders, to play the game according to the rules, by avoiding campaigns that may breed any unpleasant consequences, noting that politics is not a do-or-die affair.
He also called on the candidates to caution their supporters against using dangerous weapons during the election, adding that whoever was found wanting would be decisively dealt with.
Further, he said the Police Command would impose restriction of movement on the election day, but urged voters to go back home as soon as they cast their votes.
“I am sounding a note of warning to you, that we will not tolerate violence or those going about with dangerous weapons during the election. Anyone caught will face the wrath of the law.
“There will be restriction of movement on the election day. After casting your vote, you are advised to immediately leave the area, because we shall not condone loitering.
“We are not politicians but make sure we provide enabling environment for a hitch-free exercise, as we will not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone trying to scuttle the election.
“You should learn to accept defeat, as God has already chosen the winners. Accepting defeat will bring peace and tranquillity in our society.
Meanwhile, the representatives of all the political parties unanimously agreed in the peace accord to abide by all the laws governing the conduct of election.
Kano LG polls: PDP to appeal court verdict
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kano State chapter has expressed displeasure on the verdict of the Kano State High Court in respect of the Saturday’s local government election.
The court, presided over by the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nura, had on Tuesday dismissed the PDP’s case that had challenged the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission’s (KANSIEC) over the alleged exorbitant fees for the purchase of forms and tax clearance.
The party said it would appeal the judgement wondering how the Kano State government would expect the PDP to pay “such an exorbitant amount under the current harsh economic situation which the APC-led government put Nigerians”, the chairman, Senator Mas’ud El-Jibril Doguwa, said.
The commission had announced N250, 000 and N150, 000 as charges for contest forms and tax clearance for chairmanship candidates and N150, 000 and N110, 000 for councillorship candidates.
“We are going to appeal the verdict to stop future abuse of democracy and electoral system where government in power will put high levies on opposition political parties in order to frustrate them.
“If we allow this to go unchecked, subsequent governments will continue to impose high levies on political parties during elections.
“We have discovered that the commission has distributed free contest forms and given some token amount of money to some opposition political parties to enable their candidates contest in the forthcoming local government elections.
“The commission wanted to use PDP’s money to conduct the LG elections,” he said stressing that it was a ploy by the government to deny the party the chance to field candidates in every council.

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