A High Court in Katsina State has dismissed a case filed by prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the conduct of the party’s leadership elections at the ward, local government, and state levels held last year.

The case was brought forward by Alhaji Mustafa Inuwa, a former Secretary to the State Government, alongside eight other senior members of the party. They alleged that certain members were denied access to nomination forms for leadership positions during the elections. The plaintiffs claimed to be acting on behalf of 7,905 aggrieved party members dissatisfied with the process.

In response, the PDP, represented by its legal counsel, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, as it pertained to internal party affairs.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abbas Bawale agreed with the PDP’s argument, ruling that the court had no jurisdiction over the dispute. He clarified that issues relating to party congresses and leadership elections are internal matters that fall outside the court’s mandate.

Citing precedents from previous court rulings and provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, Justice Bawale emphasized that courts only have jurisdiction over disputes concerning political party primary elections.

While addressing the PDP counsel’s claim that the plaintiffs failed to explore internal resolution mechanisms, the judge noted that the plaintiffs had adequately exhausted the party’s internal processes before approaching the court.

Nevertheless, Justice Bawale ruled that the case was outside the court’s jurisdiction and dismissed it accordingly.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has decried the cost implications of conducting elections in Nigeria, describing it as exorbitant and burdensome.

Yakubu stated this on Friday while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly.

According to him, despite INEC being one of the largest employers in the country, it operated on a reduced budget of N40 billion, significantly lower than the N80 billion initially requested.

The INEC boss stressed the financial strain this has placed on the commission’s ability to carry out its responsibilities effectively.

He appealed to the lawmakers to organize a retreat where both the legislature and INEC can collaborate, exchange ideas, and find solutions to the pressing issues affecting the electoral process in Nigeria.

“We need a major conversation, the commission cannot continue conducting elections all year round,” he said.

He further lamented the deteriorating state of INEC’s facilities, particularly the 860 buildings across the country, which are in urgent need of repair.

Yakubu, therefore, called on the National Assembly to ensure that the electoral body, which has now submitted a 126 billion naira budget proposal, receives adequate funding.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, on Wednesday threw his weight behind the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka.

Ganduje also described claims attributed to the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, as misleading, an act he said incited his online supporters to troll Morka.

He disclosed this in a statement by him in Abuja.

His clarification comes a few hours after the APC spokesman claimed that he and his family have received 200 death threats.

Morka alleged that the threats were triggered by Obi’s accusation that his remarks during a Sunday interview on Arise Television constituted a threat to the Labour Party candidate’s life.

His earlier interview on Sunday sparked an outrage after he accused Obi of “crossing the line” in his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, asserting that Obi “deserved whatever came his way”.

His remarks prompted Obi to tweet, asking Nigerians if he had truly crossed the line by attempting to hold President Tinubu administration accountable to the people.

But Ganduje described the former LP presidential candidate’s approach as mischief and emotional blackmail meant to draw public sympathy.

According to him, at no point in the interview did Morka threaten Obi or his family.

Ganduje said, “By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr Obi has libelled him in the extreme and incited his online supporters to issue death threats against Morka and his family.

“Morka’s comments during the interview were strictly in response to a question referencing ‘prophets of doom’ and ‘voodoo economics’. Nothing in his statement constituted or suggested a threat to Obi or anyone else.

“Does Mr Obi expect the APC to fold its arms and allow the opposition to propagate falsehoods without any response?”

Continuing, Ganduje stressed that the APC will continue to counter baseless allegations with facts against President Tinubu-led administration.