The Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) has announced Saturday 15th February 2025 for local government elections in the state.
The last local government election was conducted on 4th March 2022 during Aminu Masari’s administration.
The decision to conduct the election complies with Section 197 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Section 28 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, the State Electoral Law 2022 as amended, and other relevant laws.
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Speaking on Wednesday in a press briefing held at the Commission’s Head Office Conference Hall, Katsina as part of preparations for the conduct of the election, the Commission’s Chairman, Lawal Al-Hassan Faskari, said only candidates sponsored by the registered political parties will be allowed to contest in the election.
He said all interested and qualified candidates from the registered political parties in the state are free to contest the post of chairmanship and councillorship after meeting all the requirements to contest as contained in the guidelines which will be distributed to all stakeholders for guidance and compliance.
According to Faskari, the guidelines and timetable will be distributed in due course.
“The notice will commence from today 14th February 2024 to 15th February 2025 which gives 365 days as in accordance with Section 28 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended,” he stated.
The Commission, therefore, urged stakeholders, particularly the political parties to comply and adhere to the laws and guidelines governing the conduct of the election in the State.
“We appeal to all security agents in the State to provide adequate security coverage throughout the process, especially in the frontline local government areas with security challenges.
The tenure of the current local government chairmen and councilors expires on 10th April 2024.
In the meantime, the Chairman of the Coalition of Jobe Support Groups, Mansur Lawal Baure, commended the bold decision of Governor Dikko Radda to conduct fresh elections at the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent local government chairmen in the state.
Baure believed that the decision made by the state governor will restore democratic normalcy across the 34 LGAs of the State.
According to him, the election if conducted, will avail every citizen the constitutional right to elect leaders of their choice, admonishing electorates to start searching for competent, credible and people-oriented leaders.
He further congratulated a former Deputy Speaker in the State House of Assembly, Shehu Tafoki, for emerging victorious in the aftermath of the just concluded bye-election for Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa Federal Constituency.
“Tafoki’s victory is a victory for the state Deputy Governor, Hon. Faruk Lawal Jobe, and the Katsina South Senator, Muntari Dandutse as well as the generality of APC loyalists across the state,” he added.
Governor Radda had recently in a meeting with APC stalwarts made his position known about the fate of the current LG chairmen in the state, a position which gladdened many hearts across political divides.
