The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that at least 20 candidates in the upcoming Kano State local government elections have tested positive for multiple drugs.
According to Abubakar Ahmad, the NDLEA commander in Kano, the aspirants, all from the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), tested positive for substances such as opioids (including codeine), THC (the active component of cannabis), benzodiazepines, and nicotine.
“So far, 20 aspirants presented to us by the ruling party (NNPP) in the state have tested positive for multiple drugs, and the exercise is ongoing,” Ahmad said.
He also pointed out that while nicotine was found in many cases, it is up to the electoral commission to decide whether tobacco should be classified as a drug. No female aspirants have tested positive so far.
The drug tests are part of the screening process leading up to the NNPP’s submission of its candidate list to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).
The commission will verify all candidates before the October 26 election, which will determine 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship seats across Kano’s local governments.
The initiative follows an earlier announcement by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission that drug tests would be conducted on all candidates, as confirmed by its chairman, Prof. Sani Malumfashi, during a visit to the NDLEA headquarters.
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