The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a ruling by a Federal High Court in Kano that nullified the composition of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KASIEC). A three-member panel, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, delivered the judgement on Friday, stating that the federal court lacked jurisdiction.
The appeals were filed by the Kano State Attorney-General, the House of Assembly, and KASIEC itself. The court ruled that only a state high court can adjudicate issues relating to the composition and qualification of members of a state’s electoral commission.
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In a separate ruling, the appellate court also reversed the Federal High Court’s earlier decision to reject the list of local government election candidates submitted by the Musa Kwankwaso-led faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party. It held that disputes over party leadership and candidate nominations are non-justiciable and outside the court’s remit.
The original ruling, delivered on 22 October 2024, had restrained KASIEC from conducting local government elections and barred security agencies from supporting the polls, citing political bias among its members.
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