Drug Tests Are Failed by 20 Kano LGA Chairmanship Candidates - NDLEA

At least twenty candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in Kano State have been found to have positive results for various drugs. This information was revealed by Abubakar Ahmad, the commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State. Ahmad noted that all candidates tested thus far belong to the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), with additional tests still pending. The substances being screened include opioids (such as codeine), THC (the active component in cannabis), benzodiazepines, and nicotine. Ahmad remarked, “Currently, 20 candidates presented to us by the ruling party (NNPP) have tested positive for multiple drugs, and the testing process is ongoing.” He further mentioned that while nicotine was found in several instances, it is up to the electoral commission to determine whether tobacco qualifies as a drug, as it is also present in kola nuts. Notably, no female candidates have tested positive to date. These drug screenings are part of the vetting procedure prior to the NNPP submitting its list of candidates to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), which will assess all candidates ahead of the elections scheduled for October 26. These elections will fill 44 chairmanship positions and 484 councillorship roles across the local governments of Kano.