A Federal High Court in Kano has disqualified all 44 New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) chairmanship and councillorship candidates set to contest in the upcoming local government elections.

According to Timeless Update, the election is slated for Saturday, despite the court ruling against the party’s candidates.

Justice Simon Amobeda issued the ruling following a lawsuit by Engineer Muhammad Babayo and a faction of the NNPP, contesting the party’s leadership.

The court instructed the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to accept a revised list of candidates provided by the recognized State Chairman, Dalhatu Shehu Usman. It also restrained security agencies from providing support at polling stations if the election proceeds without this updated list.

The case named the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), KANSIEC, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) as defendants.

“The defendant is hereby restrained from releasing the voters register for the 2nd Defendant to conduct the proposed election on 26th October 2024,” the judge stated.

He further directed, “The 2nd Defendant is hereby instructed to accept as genuine and valid the list of NNPP candidates from the recognized State Chairman, Dalhatu Shehu Usman,” adding that “any other list submitted for the 2024 Kano Local Government Election should be dismissed.”

“The 3rd and 4th Defendants are immediately restrained from offering security and support at the election site scheduled for 26th October 2024,” the court ruled.