Local vigilante group officials guarded Kano State residents during the ongoing local government elections on Saturday with sticks and locally forged swords.
This was after the Kano State High Court granted the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) the authority to proceed with the local government elections, nullifying all attempts by political parties to stop the exercise.
The Constitution empowers KANSIEC to conduct, supervise, and oversee local government elections across the 44 local government areas (LGAs) in Kano State, according to Justice Sanusi Ma’aji, who presided over the case. KANSIEC initiated the case against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 13 other political parties.
Voting materials have already started arriving at different polling units, according to reports.
There are also reports of local vigilante groups and Kano Road Transport Agency (KAROTA) officials providing security at the polling units.
This was after the Kano State Police Command said it would comply with a court order, restricting it from participating in the election.
Superintendent of Police Abdullahi Haruna, the command’s Public Relations Officer, revealed this to newsmen on Friday in a video message.
“We will comply with the court order restricting our participation in the coming Kano State Local Government Election. However, we will remain steadfast in fulfilling our constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property.
“Following the court order restricting the police and the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, the police vows to abide by the court order by not taking part in the forthcoming local government elections.
“You are very much aware of the court order that was received by the Police Command here in Kano. Item nine of the order provides that the police should not participate in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
“So, the police in Kano are not participating in the election. However, it’s our responsibility to ensure no breakdown of law and order in the state, and we’re always alive to our responsibilities,” Haruna said.
