Kano CSOs Raise Fresh Concerns Over OGP Election, Demand Independent Probe

Kano CSOs Raise Fresh Concerns Over OGP Election, Demand Independent Probe

The League of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State has dissociated itself from the Kano State Open Government Partnership (OGP) Non-State Actors’ election scheduled for Thursday, August 6, alleging widespread violations of OGP governance standards, eligibility requirements and electoral procedures.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 5, the coalition described the electoral process as fundamentally compromised, alleging manipulation, conflicts of interest and breaches of the OGP Articles of Governance, Participation and Co-Creation Standards, as well as relevant national operational guidelines.

The League called on the National OGP Secretariat, international development partners and stakeholders to disregard the election and withhold recognition from any outcome until the alleged irregularities are independently investigated.

It alleged that the process was being used to undermine the independence of civil society organisations and potentially transform independent watchdogs into extensions of government institutions.

Alleged Conflict of Interest

One of the major concerns raised by the coalition relates to the eligibility of the Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Disease and Social Vices (YOSPIS) to contest the position of Thematic Lead – Access to Information.

The League alleged that YOSPIS was founded and institutionally led by Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, whom it said currently holds appointments with the Kano State Government, including as Co-Chair of the Kano State Anti-Drug Abuse Task Force and Chairman of the committee developing the Kano 2027 Campaign Blueprint.

The coalition argued that, although Magashi may not be personally contesting the election, YOSPIS’s participation creates a potential conflict of interest and raises questions about the independence of civil society representation.

Electoral Committee Also Questioned

The League also challenged the composition of the Electoral Committee, which it said is chaired by Abdulrazaq Alkali, the outgoing CSO Co-Chair of the OGP Steering Committee.

It argued that an outgoing office holder should not preside over the process of selecting a successor, describing the arrangement as capable of creating a perception of bias and undermining confidence in the election.

The coalition further alleged that two outgoing members of the OGP CSO Steering Committee, Haruna Ayagi and Abdulrahman Abdu, who it said had already served two consecutive terms, had been cleared to contest for another term.

According to the League, allowing the two individuals to seek additional terms could undermine leadership rotation and renewal within the steering structure.

Questions Over Eligibility of Some Organisations

The coalition also raised concerns about the legal status and regulatory compliance of some organisations cleared to participate in the election.

It claimed that searches of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) database showed that Human Right Network (HRN) and Network for Empowerment and Development Initiative (NEDIN) could not be identified as registered organisations.

It further alleged that Advocacy for Human Right and Equal Opportunity, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative, Youth Empowerment and Human Rights Development Initiative (YEHDI), and Community Development Initiative had inactive status for allegedly failing to file statutory annual returns.

The League also said Kano Young Women Development Initiative could not be located through publicly available CAC records.

It argued that the legal status and regulatory compliance of participating organisations should be independently verified before they are allowed to occupy leadership positions within the OGP structure.

Screening Process Allegedly Lacked Transparency

The coalition also criticised the Electoral Committee for allegedly failing to publish the criteria used to screen and clear candidates.

It said there was no publicly verifiable evidence that participating organisations had been assessed for statutory tax compliance through valid Tax Clearance Certificates or compliance with applicable anti-money laundering requirements, including SCUML registration where required.

The League said the absence of publicly available screening criteria raised questions about the fairness and consistency of the electoral process.

League Demands Independent Review

The coalition called on the Kano State Government, the state Attorney-General, the National OGP Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to conduct an immediate, independent and transparent review of the electoral process.

It also demanded the immediate suspension of the election pending the outcome of such a review.

Among other demands, the League called for the reconstitution of the Electoral Committee with independent and neutral representatives, excluding outgoing office holders and individuals with direct interests in the outcome.

It also demanded fresh screening of all participating organisations and candidates using clearly defined and publicly accessible eligibility criteria.

The proposed re-screening, according to the League, should include verification of active CAC registration, statutory filing compliance, applicable tax clearance requirements and relevant anti-money laundering obligations.

The coalition further called for the publication of the screening criteria and the basis for determining the eligibility of candidates and participating organisations.

Warning Over Wider Implications

The League said the alleged irregularities could have implications beyond the Kano State election, warning that they could affect confidence in the state’s transparency and governance reform agenda as well as the credibility of the broader OGP framework.

It urged the National OGP Secretariat and international development partners to carefully review the allegations before recognising any outcome from the election.

The coalition warned that proceeding with an election amid unresolved concerns over conflicts of interest, electoral neutrality, organisational eligibility and regulatory compliance could undermine stakeholder confidence in Kano State’s participation in the global open government movement.

The League said it would pursue lawful avenues, including petitions to relevant national and international OGP institutions, if the election proceeded without addressing its concerns.

Until the issues are independently investigated and satisfactorily resolved, the coalition said it would remain dissociated from the election and any outcome arising from it.