Court nullifies PDP’s Kaduna central senatorial primary, orders re-run

The federal high court sitting in Kaduna, on Wednesday, nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary for Kaduna central senatorial district.

Usman Ibrahim, one of the aspirants for the senatorial ticket, had challenged the declaration of Lawal Adamu as the winner of the primary which was conducted in May.

In his ruling on Wednesday, Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, ordered that a re-run be conducted within 14 days.

The judge said the claims by the plaintiff were valid, including the decision by the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP, which had earlier ordered fresh primary.

Speaking in an interview after the judgment, Sam Atung, counsel to the plaintiff, expressed satisfaction over the ruling.

“The judgment of the court has been delivered and the entire claims of the plaintiff were upheld by the honourable court,” Atung said.

“Our claim was basically for a repeat primary election that was initially ordered by the PDP national working committee to be held on the fourth day of June. But for the reason best known to the state working committee, the election didn’t hold.

“So, as a loyal party member, our client decided to approach a federal high court for an interpretation of the provision of section 84 of the electoral act.

“They were ordered to conduct repeat primary within 14 days from today and the learned counsel to INEC gave the court her word that they are going to comply by the order of the court.

“All the preliminary objections that were raised by the defendant were dismissed, while the plaintiff’s case was upheld in its entirety.”