Bomba Dauda
Honourable Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court Kaduna Division has dismissed the case filed against the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), PDP (Kaduna State) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the plaintiff, Mrs. Lami Tanko of PDP Samban ward and five others who sought the court to set aside the 18th September, 2024 PDP Ward and LG congresses in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
According to the lead counsel of the Defendants, Barr. Kasai Jesse Arung of Zon Zon Attorneys, the plaintiff: Lami Tanko of Samban ward; Tere Shittu of Fada ward; Godwin Sati of Sab-Chem ward; Abashiya Fidelis of Fai ward; Solomon Adamu of Daddu ward and Raphael Ibrahim of Chori ward approached the court, prayed that it set aside the 18th September, 2024 ward and LG congresses.
He added, Hon. Justice Hauwa’u Buhari in her judgement yesterday, 25th November, 2014, said, the court has no jurisdiction over the case. She further stated that the parties involved should explore the internal mechanism of the party to resolve the issue.
For the benefit of hindsight, across the 23 LGAs in Kaduna State, Jaba was the last to conduct its congresses because the Returning Officer for the 27th July, 2024 congresses in Jaba, Mr. Joseph Bagudu, said, he was hoodwonk and the result sheets were carted away by Hon. Henry Mara. It led to the prolonged back and forth within the party in Jaba LG, which resulted to the rescheduled congresses of 16 September, 2024 where 17 officials in 10 wards of Jaba LGA were elected and the Returning Officer, Barr. Simon Yakubu Arabo expressed satisfaction over the processes of the election process and were returned elected.
It is on record that Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, member representing Jaba/Zango-Kataf Federal Constituency and Hon. Henry Mara self-isolated themselves and their supporters from participating in the rescheduled congresses, but later went to court asking the court to set aside the outcome of the congresses, which was yesterday dismissed by Hon. Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, Kaduna Division.
Speaking to Gurara Accord after the court judgement, PDP Chairman of Jaba LGA, Hon. David Bijiri Sabastine urged all the aggrieved PDP members to toe the line of peace and join the wider community of the party to chart a new course. As a family, we should learn to solve our crisis internally rather than heading to the court, exposing our dirty linings. No crisis is too complicated for the party to handle through its internal resolution mechanism.
The immediate past Speaker of Jaba Legislative Council and the running mate to Engr. Mamuda Ladan, the Jaba LG PDP flag bearer in the 2024 chairmanship race, Hon. Danladi Amos bared his mind on the excitement that overwhelmed him. “I can’t explain how I’m feeling with this judgement. This is a win for democracy because the outcome of 2024 PDP congresses in Jaba LG are the true reflection of people’s will.”
