The commander of the Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State, Abubakar Ahmad, revealed that 20 candidates for the upcoming local government election tested positive for drugs.
The individuals are reportedly from the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and tested positive for substances like codeine, THC (cannabis), benzodiazepines, and nicotine.
Ahmad mentioned that the testing is ongoing and noted that some substances found, like tobacco, are open to interpretation by the electoral commission. He added that no female candidates have tested positive.
These drug tests are part of the screening process ahead of the NNPP submitting its candidate list to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), ahead of the elections on October 26, which will fill 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship positions.
In 2018, the Kano State government introduced mandatory drug testing for political appointees, civil servants, and students seeking admission to higher institutions.
