20 Kano LGA Chairmanship aspirants fail drug tests – NDLEA | Read Details
Not less than twenty aspirants in the upcoming Kano State local government areas election have tested positive for multiple drugs.
This was disclosed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA commander in Kano state, Abubakar Ahmad.
According to Ahmad, all aspirants tested so far are of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, adding that more are yet to be tested.
They are being tested for substances including; opioids (codeine), THC (the active ingredient in 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 stated.
While nicotine was detected in many cases, Ahmad added, “It is left for the electoral commission to decide if tobacco is a drug or not because it is something you find even in kola nut.”
No female aspirants have tested positive so far.
The drug tests are part of the screening process ahead of the NNPP’s submission of its candidate list to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), which will verify all candidates before the October 26 election.
These elections will fill 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship seats across Kano’s local governments.
