Court dismisses PDP’s case on Kano LG polls

A Kano State High Court presided over by the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Nura Sagir, has dismissed a case filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) on the charges it placed on contest forms and tax clearance.

The leading opposition political party was in the court over the cost of contest forms and tax clearance which the commission pegged at N250, 000 and N150, 000 for chairmanship candidates and N150, 000 and N110, 000 for councillorship candidates.

Delivering judgement yesterday, Justice Sagir averred that the charges fixed by the electoral body did not in any way contradict the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as claimed by the complainants.

Justice Sagir declared that the Kano State electoral empire was established by laws enacted by the House of Assembly and that it was being governed by such laws.

He ruled that the KANSIEC had the powers to conduct election at the local government level and the monies it fixed for such purposes were in order.

It would be recalled that the PDP in its prayers, urged the court to compel KANSIEC to reduce the charges, as according to it, the charges were unconstitutional.

Reacting to the judgment, Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Abdullahi Adamu Fagge, said he would discuss with his client on the possibility of appealing the judgment.

On his part, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who stood in for KANSIEC, said the court had done the right thing by dismissing the case.