Katsina High Court Dismisses PDP Aspirants’ Case Over Alleged Irregularities in Congresses

A High Court sitting in Katsina on Friday dismissed a case filed by 7,095 aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were challenging the conduct of the party’s congresses in the state.

The plaintiffs, led by Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, had filed the lawsuit alleging that the congresses were conducted unfairly, with some members being denied a level playing field during the process.

The plaintiffs’ counsel, Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, argued that it was unjust for the congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels to exclude certain members, which he claimed violated democratic principles and the party’s constitution.

Shitu-Mahuta had urged the court to declare the congresses null and void and order a fresh set of congresses that would provide equal opportunities for all members, in line with the PDP’s constitution.

However, the defense counsel, Isaac Nwachukwu, countered by asserting that party congresses were internal matters and outside the jurisdiction of the court. He argued that the court had no authority to hear the case and urged for its dismissal on these grounds.

In delivering his judgment on Friday, Justice Abbas Bawale ruled that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, as it pertained to the internal affairs of the PDP. He explained that the court only had jurisdiction over matters arising from primary elections, not congresses where party leaders are elected.

Justice Bawale referred to precedents set by the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, reinforcing his decision to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction. However, he added that the plaintiffs had the right to appeal the ruling within 90 days.

Reacting to the judgment, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, announced their intention to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal.