A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau on Tuesday nullified the Governorship Primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara state for the second time.
Justice Aminu Bappa-Aliyu nullified the governorship primaries that produced Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare as the PDP candidate in the 2023 general elections.
Delivering judgment, Bappa-Aliyu held that the PDP lost the opportunity to field a candidate in the 2023 polls for failing to conduct Primaries in line with the guidelines of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.
The same court had earlier on September 16, nullified the first exercise, following alleged irregularities in the Governorship primaries conducted on May 25.
Two governorship aspirants, Dr Ibrahim Shehu-Bakauye and Hafiz Muhammad had after the second exercise approached the court seeking nullification of the second primaries conducted on Septdmber 23.
The aspirants had prayed the court declare the exercise as null and void and to no effect for failing to meet the conditions as stipulated in Section 82 (1 and 5) of the electoral act 2022 as amended.
The plaintiffs in their suit included the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of the governorship primary election committee, Mr Felix Hyat, State PDP Chairman, Ahmed Sani (Now Late), State PDP Governorship candidates, Dr Dauda Lawal and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
However, Bappa-Aliyu in a judgment held that the primary conducted by the PDP was unlawful as the primaries did not follow guidelines of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.
Bappa-Aliyu said the PDP and other defendants having failed to comply with Section 82 Sub section 1 and 5 of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, the PDP was no longer qualified to field a governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in the state.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Ibrahim Aliyu said the Electoral Act 2022, for a political party to conduct a congress, executives’ conference or a convention shall give 21-day notice before conducting such exercise.
