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From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Political parties have condemned plans by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to fix N10 million and N5 million for the purchase of nomination forms for candidates vying for chairmanship and councillorship seats respectively in the local government elections in the state billed for November 30.
Chairman of the Commission, Sani Lawal Malumfashi, who announced the official release of the guidelines and timetable for the elections, yesterday, explained that the cost of the forms was affected by the unprecedented inflation in the country, adding that power, transportation, security, diesel, printing and other services that would facilitate a successful conduct of the elections have become more expensive.
He also argued that the value of the offices have been upgraded by the recent Supreme Court’s judgement, which granted financial autonomy to local councils, even as he noted that the costs of their nomination forms were not different from similar costs in neighbouring states.
Qualification issues in the guidelines, according to Daily Sun investigation, include that prospective candidates must be members of a political party, educated up to secondary school level, free from drug addiction, must not be bankrupt and must not be members of a secret cult.
The guidelines specified the use of civil and engaging language and expressed objection to harassment, intimidation and attacks of voters and elections officers during the elections
Malumfashi, therefore, urged political parties to deliver the guidelines to their party members and other stakeholders, while appealing to critical stakeholders, including youths, community leaders and security agencies, to cooperate with the Commission to succeed.
The state Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Selina Zakari, stressed that the costs were exploitative and undemocratic, even as he doubted the ability of KANSIEC to deliver a credible election given that most members of its management team, including its chairman, were well known members of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP).
He disclosed that the APC would go to court to challenge the nomination fees as well as the appointments of clearly established members of the NNPP as umpires of the elections.
Similarly, the state Secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Musa Maigari, decried the rate of acquiring the nomination forms, arguing that it would force the elected candidates to engage in corruption when they assume office.
