A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital has nullified the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship primary election that produced Dauda Lawal as the State Governorship Candidate of the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
BASIC FACTS
- A Federal High court Gusau has nullified the PDP Governorship primary in the state.
- PDP in Zamfara State has been ordered by a Federal High court Gusau to conduct a fresh governorship primaries.
- The counsel to the defendants have said the Federal High court judgement will be appealed.
WHAT WE KNOW
Few months to the 2023 General elections and few days to official kick off of campaign, the PDP in Zamfara State has suffered a set back, as a Federal High court in the state capital has nullified the party primaries.
In a judgment summarily delivered by Justice Aminu Bappa, the court granted all the prayers by the plaintiff which is to nullify the primary election that produced Dauda Lawal and ordered fresh primary election in line with the constitution of PDP and guidelines of the party.
Speaking to journalists after the judgment, counsel to all the Plaintiffs, Ibrahim Mani said the court started by resolving the preliminary objection raised by the defendants on whether the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case, which the court held that it has jurisdiction as the matter is pre-election matter
The court in it’s ruling, granted all the prayers brought before it by the plaintiff and resolved the preliminary objection that were raised by the defendants and the court held that it has jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it was purely pre-election matter as we contemplated in our claim, therefore the court proceeded to look at the merit of the matter and decided the case in favour of the plaintiffs.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the 1st and 4th defendants, Bashir Abubakar said the party will look into the judgment and appeal it.
NOTABLE QUOTES
Justice Aminu Bappa of the Federal High court Gusau in his ruling said, “The court has granted the prayers submitted in this honorable court by the plaintiffs and hereby ruled in their favour”.
“The 109-page judgement will be presented to the counsels of both the plaintiffs and the dependants”.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Ibrahim Mani had this to say after the ruling, “The court resolved the preliminary objection that were raised by the defendants and the court held that it has jurisdiction to entertain the matter because it was purely pre-election matter as we contemplated in our claim, therefore the court proceeded to look at the merit of the matter and decided the case in favour of the plaintiffs,”
“The prayers are, that the primary election that was allegedly conducted by the committee of Adamu Maina-Waziri should be nullified by the honourable court and order was given by the court to re conduct another primary election inline with the constitution of PDP and guidelines of the party”
Bashir Abubakar, counsel to the first and 4th defendants said, “The judgment was in the favour of the plaintiffs but we are going to look at the judgment, the record and everything to see the next line of action and I believe we are going to appeal.”
CATCH UP
Recall that PDP Governorship Primary held in Zamfara State on May 25th.
The primaries produced Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 general polls.
The primary election was conducted by the committee sent from the PDP National Headquarters Abuja, led by Adamu Maina-Waziri.
However, not satisfied with the conduct of the primary election, Mr Ibrahim Shehu-Gusau and two other PDP governorship aspirants, sought the nullification of the election over alleged irregularities and noncompliance with the constitution of the PDP.
The defendants in the case are Dauda Lawal (PDP governorship candidate), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Chairman of Zamfara PDP Governorship Primary Election Committee, Adamu Maina-Waziri and the Chairman of Zamfara State PDP, retired Col. Bala Mande
TAKEAWAY
At a time other parties in the state are fine tuning their campaign strategies for the soon to commence campaign, the PDP is still in court, going on appeal or conducting a fresh primary election, with a possible new candidate.
However, the party’s biggest challenge in Zamfara State may not just the outcome of the appeal, but the time the appeal will be decided. Also, there is a possibility of bad blood that would be created and how it impact the Zamfara PDP campaign when it starts.
Recall that the PDP at the National level is yet to resolve the conflict generated by it’s presidential primary election, choice of running mate and National Chairman.
If the National party is already plagued with conflict, you can imagine how a potential state crisis will go.
