The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved its judgment in five separate appeals linked to the controversial 2024 local government elections in Kano State. These appeals arose following two rulings by the Federal High Court in Kano, which invalidated the composition of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).

One of the central issues involves the Federal High Court’s October 2024 decision that barred KANSIEC from conducting elections across Kano’s 44 local councils. Justice Simon Amobeda ruled that the commission’s members were partisan, being card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party—violating the Nigerian Constitution.

The court also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the voters’ register from KANSIEC and prohibited security agencies from supporting the planned elections.

Unhappy with this verdict, the Kano State House of Assembly, KANSIEC, and other stakeholders challenged the ruling. Their legal teams argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction, as local elections are state matters and should be handled by the Kano State High Court.

The appeals were heard by a three-member panel led by Justice Georgewill Ekanem, who announced that the final judgment will be delivered at a later date.

The case has generated significant political tension in Kano, with legal observers and residents awaiting the appellate court’s decision, which could shape the future of grassroots governance in the state.