Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) accredited as election observers for the Kano State local government elections reported on the conduct of the polls.
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the group noted the peaceful nature of the elections, held despite challenges such as the absence of security personnel and conflicting court judgments leading up to the event.
Led by Comrade Victor Kalu, Director of Grassroots Development and Peace Initiative, the coalition of 88 CSOs shared their observations on the polls, held on October 26, 2024.
“The Kano State Local Government election actually took place as scheduled, and was generally peaceful despite the tension created by conflicting court judgments and the absence of police presence across the 44 local government areas,” Kalu stated.
Despite the lack of a security presence, Kalu observed a high voter turnout, noting, “Despite the confusion created by the court judgments and the absence of the police, voter turnout for the election was impressively high compared to previous local government elections in the state.”
He also noted that citizens adhered to the non-movement directive, adding, “The participation of the Kano citizens in the election exercise was quite impressive.”
However, the CSOs pointed out certain logistical challenges. “There were late arrivals of election materials at some polling units, especially in Ungogo LGA,” Kalu mentioned.
He also noted issues like low voter turnout in certain areas, including Fagge and Ungogo, and observed that some election personnel lacked adequate training in election management, data entry, result tabulation, and record-keeping.
Kalu highlighted the significance of the local government elections, stating, “The local government election is crucial as it is closest to the public, and the Supreme Court’s ruling on financial autonomy for local governments made it imperative for the state to conduct the elections to avoid forfeiting its allocation.”
In a related event, the CSOs officially submitted their election report to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).
Receiving the report, KANSIEC Chairman, Prof. Sani Lawal Malumfashi, noted the CSOs’ role in overseeing the elections.
“Your presence was invaluable in safeguarding the constitutional mandate of this election, and I encourage you to continue promoting democracy in Nigeria,” Malumfashi remarked.
Malumfashi recognized the observers’ role in preventing attempts to disrupt the elections, which he described as essential to upholding democratic values.
