From Desmond Mgboh Kano
The Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), has reduced the nomination form fees for local government elections in the state.
The fees were slashed from N10 million for chairmanship and N5 million for councillorship to N9 million for chairmanship and N4 million for councillorship. The Chairman of KANSIEC, Lawal Malumfashi, disclosed this at a press conference held in the state on Friday.
He acknowledged the court order restricting it from collecting N10 million for the chairmanship nomination form and N5 million for councillorship.
“Primary elections are expected to end by tomorrow according to the elections timetable and we expect parties to submit the names of their candidates.
“By Monday, the candidates can purchase their nomination forms from the banks as everything has been made ready for them. “We are aware that three political parties had gone to court to restrain us from collecting the N10 million for chairmanship and N5 million for councillorship nomination forms.
“With regard to this, we have reduced the fees for the nomination forms. We will collect N9 million for chairmanship candidates and N4 million for councillorship candidates even as we are powered by Section 51 (A) of the state electoral act to charge any amount accordingly,” he said.
He further explained that there are states like Bayelsa, Ebonyi and Kaduna that sold their forms at N20 million, N20 million and N10 million respectively, adding that the commission was only exercising its rights as provided by the law.