The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, has resigned from his position following his nomination by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for appointment as a commissioner.

The resignation was announced in a statement issued by Bashir Habib Yahya, Media Aide to the KANSIEC Chairman, who disclosed that Professor Malumfashi communicated his decision during a farewell address to commissioners and staff of the electoral commission.

In his farewell address, Professor Malumfashi expressed appreciation to the commissioners and staff for their support and cooperation throughout his tenure, particularly during the conduct of the 2024 local government elections in Kano State.

The outgoing chairman acknowledged the contributions of the commission’s personnel to the electoral process and thanked them for working with him during his leadership of the institution.

Professor Malumfashi also urged the commissioners and staff to extend the same level of cooperation and support to the incoming leadership of the commission to ensure continuity in its activities.

He called on the personnel to maintain their commitment to the responsibilities of the commission, stressing the importance of cooperation in supporting the new leadership.

The former chairman further sought forgiveness from anyone he might have offended in the course of his service, assuring the commissioners and staff that he was leaving office without holding grudges against anyone.

Responding on behalf of the commissioners, the Commissioner for Media and Publicity, Alhaji Lawan Badamasi, popularly known as Galadiman Gezawa, commended Professor Malumfashi and advised him to justify the confidence reposed in him by Governor Yusuf through his nomination for the commissioner position.

The statement did not disclose the specific portfolio for which Professor Malumfashi had been nominated or provide further details regarding the confirmation and swearing-in process.

Professor Malumfashi’s resignation marks a leadership transition at KANSIEC following his nomination to serve in the Kano State Government’s executive arm.

The development comes after the commission conducted the 2024 local government elections, which formed a major part of its responsibilities during his tenure.

The statement was signed by Bashir Habib Yahya, Media Aide to the KANSIEC Chairman.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council has alleged a plot to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the January 16, 2027 presidential election over the Ebola outbreak.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the campaign council, said the opposition party had received information that Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and instructed to change the election date.

Shaibu, however, did not provide details or evidence to substantiate the allegation.

The ADC campaign council spokesperson urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon any alleged attempt to alter the election timetable, saying he should seek re-election through the ballot box rather than postpone the poll.

“Professor Joash Amupitan must refuse any instruction to change the timetable and immediately make any such approach public,” the statement reads.

“The election date belongs to Nigerians. It must not be rewritten behind closed doors at the Villa.

“Nigerians have endured three and a half years of soaring prices, shrinking incomes and relentless hardship. They have the right to judge this government at the ballot box on 16 January.

“A government that has made life this difficult for Nigerians must not be allowed to postpone its day of judgment.”

While acknowledging that Ebola was a serious public health concern, Shaibu cautioned against using the outbreak as a justification for delaying the election.

He called on health professionals to sustain containment efforts and urged INEC to take necessary measures to protect voters and election workers.

The council spokesperson also cited comments by Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), who said there was no current reason to postpone the 2027 general election over the outbreak.

“As of now, there is no need for that. We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” Idris said on Monday.

Shaibu called on INEC, domestic observers and international election monitors to scrutinise any proposal to change the election timetable.

He said any such proposal should be made openly, backed by published health evidence and subjected to public scrutiny.

On Sunday, Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), cautioned against postponing the election or cancelling political campaigns over the outbreak.

Speaking at a dinner organised by the SDP presidential campaign council in Abuja, Adebayo said a single confirmed case was insufficient to justify shutting down public activities.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of using his announced Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to conceal an alleged trip to France, demanding that the Presidency disclose the President’s full itinerary.

‎Atiku also questioned whether the trip was connected to Tinubu’s health and a reported $20bn loan request involving a French business partner, calling on the Presidency to address the issues and provide Nigerians with clear explanations.

‎‎The former vice-president made the allegations in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.

‎‎According to Atiku, intelligence available to him suggested that Tinubu might make a brief appearance in Makkah before proceeding to France. He, however, did not provide details of the intelligence to support the claim.

‎‎Atiku challenged the Presidency to release current, date-stamped photographs and videos showing Tinubu at the Kaaba and participating in the rites of Umrah daily if the pilgrimage was genuinely intended to seek divine intervention for Nigeria.

‎‎He said he and other Nigerians would join the President in prayers for the country’s peace and progress, but warned against invoking the name of Allah in vain.

‎‎Atiku maintained that the President’s itinerary and the funding of the trip were matters of public interest, arguing that Nigerians deserved transparency regarding official engagements undertaken in the country’s name.

‎‎He urged the Presidency to respond to the questions and provide verifiable evidence of the President’s activities during the pilgrimage.

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