Court reserves judgment in PDP’s N300m suit against Kano electoral commission

A high court in Kano has reserved judgment in a suit by filed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) seeking N300 million as damages against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC).

The PDP alleged that the state electoral commission had unlawfully inserted the party’s logo in the ballot papers during the council elections which held on January 16, 2021.

Shehu Sagagi, Kano PDP chairman, and Jamilu Danbatta, party secretary, had instituted the suit against KANSIEC and its chairman, Garba Sheka.

The party through its counsel, Bashir Yusuf, is seeking the interpretation of Section 221 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Section 89 of the Electoral Act and section 7 (8) of Kano State Local Government Election Law.

Yusuf submitted to the court that KANSIEC unlawfully included the PDP logo and symbol in the ballot papers without the party’s interest and consent despite having informed the commission of the intention not to participate in the election.

He prayed the court to award N300 million in damages in favour of his client.

Ibrahim Nassarawa, counsel to KANSIEC, urged the court to dismiss the suit for lacking merit.

He submitted that the plaintiffs did not suffer any damages from the commission’s actions.

Ibrahim Karaye, the presiding judge, ordered all counsels in the suit to submit the legal authorities cited in their addresses.

Karaye said the court will inform all parties and their counsel of the date fixed for judgment.