In 2018, the state government took the same measures for political appointment, civil servants, and students to acquire higher education.
According to the Nigeria State Government (NDLEA), In the shocking development, the next election of Kano's local government, 20 candidates have been tested positively to the consumption of drugs.
This was disclosed by the agency's State Commandant, Abubakar Ahmad, who confirmed that the candidates were from the ruling New Nigerian People's Party (NNPP).
The applicants were found to have used substances including opioids, THC (the active compound in cannabis), benzodiazepines and nicotine.
Ahmad stressed that the drug testing process is still ongoing and further results may follow.
He said, "So far, 20 candidates presented by the state ruling party (NNPP) have tested positive for some drugs," adding that the tests were part of the verification process before the final list of candidates is submitted to parliament by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KAANSIEC).
One of the notable aspects of tests is that so far, no female candidate has given a positive result for drug.
Ahmad has also noted that some of the discovery substances are associated with tobacco, which has caused the debate to find out if the drug should be classified as drugs.
“It is up to the electoral commission to decide whether tobacco is a drug or not because it is something that is found even in kola nut,” he said.
This is not the first time Kano has introduced mandatory drug testing for political candidates, civil servants and students seeking higher education.
The local government elections, scheduled for October 26, will determine the occupants of 44 chairmanship and 484 councillorship seats across Kano State.
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