At least 20 aspirants vying for elective positions in the forthcoming local government elections in Kano State have tested positive for various drugs, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
This revelation was made by the NDLEA’s Kano State Commander, Abubakar Idris Ahmad, during a briefing on Tuesday, September 2024.
Ahmad stated that the candidates, presented by the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), tested positive for a range of substances, including codeine (an opioid), Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the active ingredient in cannabis sativa), benzodiazepines, and nicotine.
“So far, 20 aspirants have tested positive for multiple drugs, and the screening is still ongoing,” Ahmad confirmed.
Though many tested positive for nicotine, Ahmad highlighted that it would be up to the electoral commission to determine whether substances like tobacco, commonly found in kola nuts, should disqualify candidates. He further noted that no female aspirant had tested positive so far.
Currently, only NNPP has submitted candidates for screening ahead of the official submission to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).
The elections, scheduled for October 26, will see 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship seats contested by candidates from 18 registered political parties.
