FEDERAL HIGH COURT ORDERS FRESH PDP PRIMARY IN KANO

A Federal High Court in Kano has nullified the governorship primary election conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which produced Abba Kabir-Yusuf as the party’s flag-bearer in the state.

The cancellation of the primary election followed a suit filed before the Court by one of the party gubernatorial aspirants, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali-Amin, who challenged the legitimacy of the process which produced Kabir-Yusuf as candidate.

Ali-Amin alleged that the PDP during the primary election “sidelined and booted him out” of the race.

In his ruling, Justice Lewis Alagua, nullified the election on the premise that the party had no incontrovertible reason to deny the plaintiff participating in the primary election because he formally brought his expression and nomination form.

Justice Alagua also held that denying the plaintiff the right to participate in the primary election contravened the provision of the Electoral Act and  ordered for a valid fresh primary election before the March 9 governorship election.

The plaintiff, Ali-Amin, had prayed the court to nullify the election on the ground that it was grossly flawed, given the manner he was sidelined with no justifiable reasons.

He said he was blatantly denied participation in the primary election in spite of the fact that he had brought his expression and nomination form.

The plaintiff contended  that there was also the need for the court to interpret whether the party could go ahead to field a candidate for the election in Kano State without conducting the primary election.

In his submission, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Kabir Usman said the judgement had become legally expedient, since his client had been denied the right to contest the election.

He said with the cancellation of the primary election, the governorship slot had become vacant, pending when a fresh and valid primary election would be held.

In his remarks, counsel to PDP, Bashir Yusuf said the verdict did not affect Abba Kabir-Yusuf as a candidate but PDP as a party, pointing out that they would appeal against the judgement.