The Katsina State High Court on Friday struck out a suit filed by the Dr Mustapha Inuwa-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the conduct of the party’s ward, local government, and state congresses held in June of last year.
The legal battle had been ongoing between Inuwa’s loyalists and those loyal to the Katsina 2023 PDP governorship candidate, Senator Yakubu Lado, over the congresses held in July and August 2024. The plaintiffs sought to restrain the party from conducting the congresses, claiming that they were unable to access the necessary forms for the exercise.
The plaintiffs argued that the suit was filed on behalf of 7,905 other party members who were dissatisfied with the way the congresses were conducted in the state.
In its defense, the PDP filed a preliminary objection through its counsel, Mr Isaac Nwachukwu, asking the court to strike out the suit, citing lack of jurisdiction and the plaintiffs’ lack of competence to file the action.
Ruling on the matter on Friday, the presiding judge, Justice Abbas Bawale, struck out the plaintiffs’ application, stating that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Justice Bawale referred to several authorities and highlighted that the congresses were internal affairs of the party, which the court should not intervene in. He clarified that the court could only address grievances related to party primaries, in line with the provisions of the nation’s Electoral Act, 2022, as amended.
Following the ruling, the counsel for the plaintiffs, Mr. Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, maintaining that the state PDP congresses were conducted illegally, with significant violations of the party’s constitution. He vowed to appeal the judgment at the appellate court.
