Now Reading: Court Delays Ruling on Suit to Halt Kano LG Allocations, Tensions Rise
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Court Delays Ruling on Suit to Halt Kano LG Allocations, Tensions Rise
A Federal High Court in Kano has adjourned a suit seeking to stop monthly allocations to Kano State’s 44 local government councils, pending further arguments, escalating political friction in the state.
The case, heard on April 14, 2025, was filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-backed Concerned Citizens of Kano, who allege that the local government election conducted on October 26, 2024, was marred by irregularities favoring the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Justice Musa Haruna deferred the ruling to May 10, 2025, urging parties to submit additional evidence, as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court.
The plaintiffs argue that the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) violated electoral laws, citing instances of missing ballot papers and voter intimidation. They seek to block federal funds—over ₦30 billion monthly—to the LGs until the election is re-evaluated.
The NNPP, led by Governor Abba Yusuf, dismissed the suit as a “desperate APC ploy” to destabilize governance, insisting the polls were free and fair, with NNPP winning all 44 chairmanship seats. Kano’s 2024 LG election recorded 70% voter turnout, per KANSIEC, but opposition parties boycotted, alleging bias.
The adjournment follows a Court of Appeal ruling on April 14 upholding a prior order to maintain the status quo in a related chieftaincy dispute, signaling judicial caution in Kano’s volatile political climate. Legal experts warn that blocking LG funds could paralyze grassroots services, affecting 12 million residents. “This is a test of Kano’s democratic resilience,” said analyst Zainab Usman. As protests swell, police have deployed 2,000 officers to curb unrest, with both sides bracing for a prolonged legal battle.
