A coalition of civil society organisations in Kano State has accused the state government of abusing public resources over the alleged allocation of 1,540 plots of land and N100 million to grassroots leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The coalition, under the League of Civil Society Organisations (LCSO), described the alleged distribution as a misuse of state resources, saying it amounted to prioritising political patronage over the welfare of Kano residents.
The group made the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday and endorsed by 23 civil society organisations in the state. It said the alleged allocation was coming at a time millions of Kano residents were facing severe economic hardship and rising poverty.
Citing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Multidimensional Poverty Index, the coalition said Kano has a poverty rate of 66.3 per cent, with about 10.51 million residents living in multidimensional poverty.
“The League of Civil Society Organisations in Kano State strongly condemns the recent distribution of 1,540 plots of land and N100 million in public funds to grassroots leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” the statement read.
“This allocation is a direct affront to the millions of Kano residents currently enduring acute, structural hardship.”
The organisations also referenced projections by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the World Bank, arguing that the alleged allocation was unjustifiable amid worsening economic conditions and declining living standards across the country.
The coalition accused the Kano State Government of using public assets for partisan interests.
“By converting state-owned land, a finite and invaluable resource, into a tool for partisan mobilisation, the current administration has demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the fiduciary duty it owes to the people of Kano,” it stated.
The group further alleged that the action violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Land Use Act.
It cited Section 15(5) of the Constitution, which requires the government to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power, as well as Section 121 of the Electoral Act, which prohibits bribery and inducement connected to elections.
According to the coalition, the alleged use of government funds and land to reward political supporters amounted to electoral inducement.
“The LCSO demands that these actions be scrutinised as a criminal violation of the Electoral Act, as they clearly transcend the boundaries of lawful governance and enter the realm of prohibited electoral inducement,” the statement added.
The coalition also argued that the alleged allocation contravened the Land Use Act, which places land under the control of state governors to hold in trust for the benefit of Nigerians.
It called for the immediate suspension of the alleged distribution of the plots and N100 million pending an independent investigation.
The group urged the Kano State House of Assembly to investigate the source of the funds and the criteria used in selecting beneficiaries. It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the matter as a possible breach of the Electoral Act and demanded the publication of the names of beneficiaries.
“Democracy in Kano must be built on the bedrock of transparency, merit, and equality,” the statement said. “We call on all stakeholders, including the judiciary, the press, and the good people of Kano, to join us in resisting this slide into institutionalised cronyism.”
The Kano State Government has not responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.