Kano to Conduct Local Government Elections in November

The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission has announced that local government elections will be held on November 30, 2024. This date was revealed by the Commission’s Chairman, Sani Malumfashi, during a press briefing in Kano on Wednesday.

Malumfashi stated that an official notification for the elections will be issued on November 15, 2024. The process for candidate nominations will begin on October 1, with nomination forms available until October 11. Candidates must submit their forms by October 18, 2024.

The screening of candidates is scheduled from October 18 to October 20, and the final list of eligible candidates will be published on October 24. The election results are expected to be announced by December 10, 2024.

“These elections are being conducted under Section 103, Subsections 3 and 1 of the Electoral Act, and in accordance with the powers granted to the Commission by Paragraph 3(4) of Part II, Third Schedule, Section 3(1) of the Kano Local Government Law 2004,” Malumfashi stated.

The elections follow a recent Supreme Court judgment that granted financial autonomy to local governments. The Commission has emphasized that the conduct of the elections will adhere strictly to legal requirements.

Malumfashi also highlighted campaign regulations, prohibiting candidates from placing posters on places of worship, schools, and government buildings. Violators will face penalties.

The Commission expects participation from all 19 political parties registered in the state and will work closely with security agencies to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

“Kano, with 44 local governments and over 7 million registered voters, poses significant security challenges, particularly given the current economic difficulties,” Malumfashi noted.

To manage the electoral process, the Commission plans to recruit approximately 13,000 ad-hoc staff to oversee operations at 11,000 polling units across the state.