ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ward congresses held on July 27, 2024, in Kaduna State, as well as a bid to stop the party’s planned local government congresses in the state.
Justice Peter Ode Lifu struck out the case on Monday, ruling that the matter was beyond the court’s jurisdiction, as it concerned the internal affairs of a political party.
Six PDP members — Sheu Isa Dan Ina, Mutari Shuaib, Yusuf Suleiman, Nura Waziri, Mansur Alasan, and Jaafar Abubakar — had approached the court through their counsel, Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji (SAN), alleging they were unlawfully excluded from the ward congresses despite being authentic candidates.
In their suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1144/24), they sought several declaratory orders, including the nullification of the July 27 congresses, a directive to the PDP National Working Committee to conduct fresh congresses in Kaduna, and an order restraining the party from holding its August 10, 2024 local government congresses. They also asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the exercise until their case was resolved.
The plaintiffs cited Article 15 of the PDP constitution and Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022, arguing that the party’s Election Appeal Committee had recommended a fresh process that was ignored by the leadership.
However, in his judgment, Justice Lifu relied on a Supreme Court precedent to rule that the selection of party officers and nomination of candidates are purely internal matters, which the courts cannot adjudicate.
He found no merit in the plaintiffs’ arguments and dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, without awarding costs against them.
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