Kano Gov, Yusuf, Swears in 44 Council Chairmen, Civil Groups Present Poll Reports

*Say outcome of exercise satisfactory Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, yesterday, swore in the newly elected 44 local government chairmen in the state.
The oath of office was, however, administered on them by the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, at the Africa House, Government House, in the presence of Yusuf and hundreds of party supporters.
Also, yesterday, the coalition of 89 civil society groups have officially handed over their election report to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), appraising the performance of the commission.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Yusuf, congratulated the new council officers, describing their victory as a milestone towards the journey to consolidate democracy in the state.
“As you may be all aware, in July, this year, the Supreme Court of Nigeria had delivered a landmark judgment affirming the financial autonomy of all the 774 local government councils in the country as a committed proponent of democracy and the rule of law.

“Our administration in the state immediately swung into action by activating the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the conduct of the LG polls as guided by the extant law and also proceeded with the dissolution of the Interim Management Committee.
“You may equally recall, when this administration took the mantle of leadership of the state, we resisted the temptation to dissolve the then existing LG council we inherited, even though all of them were from the opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC. Not only did we preserve them, we never denied them any of their entitlements.

“Today, we have 44 duly elected chairmen across the LG and 484 newly elected councillors. I congratulate the leadership and management of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, KANSIEC for a thorough and for the good job done inspite of unnecessary distractions by politicians who tried to stall the process for their own selfish interest,” he said.
Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, the CSOs, under Victor Kalu and Magret Anih, presented their election report to the KANSEIC, and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
They commended the peaceful conduct of the election despite the absence of the conventional security agencies at polling centers.

Receiving the report, chairman of the commission, Sani Malumfashi, appreciated the CSOs and urged them to continue the struggle to entrench democracy in Nigeria.