Kano, Nigeria – Ahead of the upcoming local government elections in Kano State, 20 political aspirants have tested positive for various drugs, according to Abubakar Ahmad, the commander of the Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State. The affected individuals are reportedly members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The drug tests, part of the screening process for the election, revealed substances including opioids (such as codeine), THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis), benzodiazepines, and nicotine. While the NDLEA has confirmed that these aspirants tested positive, it is now up to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to decide the fate of these candidates in the October 26 elections.
Ahmad further mentioned that while nicotine, commonly found in tobacco products, was detected in some aspirants, it remains a point of contention whether it qualifies as a disqualifying drug. He added that the screening process is ongoing, with no female aspirants testing positive for drugs thus far.
The NNPP is preparing to submit its candidate list for the elections, which will fill 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship positions across the state. This comes as part of a larger anti-drug campaign in Kano, which has seen compulsory drug tests for political appointees, civil servants, and students since 2018.