A High Court in Katsina State has dismissed a case filed by prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the conduct of the party’s leadership elections at the ward, local government, and state levels held last year.
The case was brought forward by Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa, a former Secretary to the State Government, alongside eight other senior members of the party. They alleged that certain members were denied access to nomination forms for leadership positions during the elections. The plaintiffs claimed to be acting on behalf of 7,905 aggrieved party members dissatisfied with the process.
In response, the PDP, represented by its legal counsel, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, as it pertained to internal party affairs.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Abbas Bawale agreed with the PDP’s argument, ruling that the court had no jurisdiction over the dispute. He clarified that issues relating to party congresses and leadership elections are internal matters that fall outside the court’s mandate.
Citing precedents from previous court rulings and provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, Justice Bawale emphasized that courts only have jurisdiction over disputes concerning political party primary elections.
While addressing the PDP counsel’s claim that the plaintiffs failed to explore internal resolution mechanisms, the judge noted that the plaintiffs had adequately exhausted the party’s internal processes before approaching the court.
Nevertheless, Justice Bawale ruled that the case was outside the court’s jurisdiction and dismissed it accordingly.
