Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Muhammad Adamu and Ahmed Bashir, have filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging their exclusion, along with 9,680 other aspirants, from the party’s 2024 ward congresses.
The suit, representing all affected aspirants, questions the legitimacy of the ward congresses held on September 7, 2024. The plaintiffs argue that the congresses were not valid, claiming the process violated both the PDP constitution and relevant electoral laws. They are asking the court to determine whether the congresses can legally serve as the basis for upcoming local government and state congresses.
“The processes leading up to the ward congresses were flawed, and thousands of party members were deliberately sidelined,” the plaintiffs stated. They argue that their exclusion undermines internal democracy within the party and breaches fundamental principles of fairness.
The suit names four defendants: the PDP, Mr. Zannah Gadzama, Chairman of the 2024 Ward Congresses Electoral Committee in Kano State; Alhaji Mai Adamu Mustapha, Chairman of the State Caretaker Committee; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to nullify the congress results and halt further congresses until their grievances are addressed. The court has given the defendants 30 days to respond to the claims.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, the faction of the PDP led by Ibrahim Shekarau and Bello Hayatu Gwarzo elected new executives to manage the party’s affairs in Kano State.
At the state congress, delegates elected Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya as the new state chairman of the party. Kibiya, who previously served as Commissioner for Agriculture under Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso from 1999 to 2003, won the election by a landslide.
He secured 3,964 votes, defeating his opponent, Nura Nuhu, who garnered 244 votes. The results were announced by Halilu Abubakar Mazagani, the chairman of the election committee from the party’s national headquarters.