A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking the disqualification of Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara and other All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, dismissed the suit on the ground that it was incompetent and constituted an abuse of court process.
The PDP had in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1622/2022, asked the court to determine whether the APC, which adopted the indirect mode of primaries for the selection and nomination of its candidates could elect delegates to vote at its convention, congress, conference or meeting to nominate candidates for elections into any elective office.
The party, therefore, sought an order nullifying the nomination of the candidates for the National and State House of Assemblies elections in the state.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ekwo upheld all the preliminary objections raised by APC and its candidates.
The judge agreed with the defence that the provision of Section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which the PDP relied on as giving them the locus standi (legal right) in the case did not avail them.
According to him, this means there is no iota of law which supports this action.
Justice Ekwo said he had also found that the plaintiff was not an aspirant in the APC primaries by virtue of Section 84(14) and 152 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The judge, who held that no law supported the filing of the case, said he found that the suit constituted an abuse of court process.
He also agreed with the defence that the suit was statue barred, having been filed outside the 14 days of the cause of action as prescribed the law.
Justice Ekwo, consequently, dismissed the suit.
