The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced that 20 chairmanship candidates in Kano State tested positive for drugs during screenings for the upcoming local government elections.

This revelation, which is part of efforts to ensure candidates are fit for office, has sparked concerns about the credibility of the elections.

According to Daily Trust, NDLEA’s Kano State Commander, Abubakar Idris Ahmad, disclosed that the candidates, all members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), were found to have consumed various substances including opioids, cannabis, benzodiazepines, and nicotine.

The agency has clarified that, so far, no female aspirants have tested positive.

However, the screening is still ongoing, and more candidates are expected to undergo drug testing before the final list is submitted to the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for verification.

“So far, 20 aspirants presented to us by the ruling party (NNPP) in the state have tested positive for multiple drugs, and the exercise is ongoing,” Ahmad stated.

These tests are being conducted as part of the candidate verification process for the upcoming elections, scheduled for October 26, which will see the election of 44 chairmen and 484 councillors across the state’s local government areas.