The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that 20 aspirants in the upcoming Kano State local government elections tested positive for multiple drugs during a screening process. This revelation has raised concerns about the integrity of the candidates and the election.
The NDLEA’s commander in Kano, Abubakar Ahmad, confirmed that all 20 aspirants who tested positive are from the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). The substances detected include opioids like codeine, THC (the active component in cannabis), benzodiazepines, and nicotine. While nicotine was found in several cases, Ahmad noted that it remains up to the electoral commission to determine if tobacco use should disqualify candidates.
This drug test is part of the NNPP’s candidate screening process before submitting their list to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for verification ahead of the October 26 election. The upcoming elections will determine 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship positions across Kano’s local governments.