Kano rerun elections: non-federal security services barred

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

The State House of Assembly rerun elections on February 3rd are prohibited from being attended by non-federal security personnel, according to the Kano State Police Command.

This was disclosed on Wednesday in Kano during a stakeholders’ meeting between security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, by the State Commissioner of Police Muhammad Usaini Gumel.

Three constituencies—Kunchi/Tsanyawa, Kura/Garunmalam, and Tofa/Rimin Gado—will be included in the State House of Assembly rerun election.

Amb. Abdu Zango, the state’s INEC Commissioner, said that training for ad hoc workers has started in the state and that both sensitive and non-sensitive documents are on hand following the stakeholders meeting at the Police Headquarters.

“I am glad to report that all preparations towards the rerun elections coming up on the 3rd of February are on course. The logistics and all others are on course.

“We have had meetings with all stakeholders, political parties, civil society, media and today we had a meeting with security agencies so that we devise strategies for a free, fair and credible election in a very secure environment.

“I have been given all assurances that things will go smoothly, I am dealing with professionals, they have done that before, and they will do it again. I am very confident of the arrangement so far,” Zango said.

He further explained that as usual, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members will serve as the ad-hoc field workers while the university dons will play their roles as the Returning Officers