By Ken Chiwendu
A Federal High Court in Kano has sacked the Chairman and members of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission KANSIEC over partisan politics and other breaches of the constitution.
Delivering judgement in a suit filled by Aminu Aliyu Tiga ,a member of the All Progressives Congress APC against KANSIEC and the state Attorney General, and 14 others the presiding judge, Justice S. A Amobede held that” the defendants being card carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP and in partisan politics contrary to Section 197(1)(b) and Section 200(1)(a) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 4 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.are not qualified to be the Chairman and members of the Defendant KANSIEC “
Justice Amobede further held that Kabir Zakirai, the Secretary of the Commission , not being an officer in the Kano State Civil Service not below the rank of Director prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Commission , is not qualified to be appointed pursuant to Section 14 of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001.
The judge added that in view of the fact that KANSIEC was constituted in contravention of the laws,all activities carried out by the defendants including sale of expression of interest forms, issuance of guidelines and screening of aspirants are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“The defendants are forthwith disqualified and removed from their positions as chairman and members of the commission ” the court ruled.
