The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the composition of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) and the local government elections held on October 26, 2024.
In a series of unanimous decisions, a three-member panel led by Justice Biobele Georgewill ruled that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate matters concerning the composition and qualification of state electoral bodies.
The appellate court clarified that such issues fall within the purview of the Kano State High Court, not the Federal High Court.
The Court allowed appeals filed by the Kano State Attorney General, the State House of Assembly, and KANSIEC, striking out the earlier suits for lack of jurisdiction.
In a related ruling, the Appeal Court also overturned another controversial judgment by the same Federal High Court, which had rejected the list of candidates submitted to KANSIEC by the Kwankwaso-led faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The court held that matters relating to internal party leadership and candidate nominations are political questions and not subject to judicial review.
The decisions effectively reaffirm the legitimacy of the October 2024 local government polls in Kano, offering a significant legal win for the Kano State Government and KANSIEC.
