Following the Federal High Court judgement nullifying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Zamfara state that produced Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare as candidate, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded delisting the opposition party and its 2023 governorship candidate as directed by the court.
The APC also urged the the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to allow PDP to pollute the 2023 general elections.
Justice Aminu B. Aliyu of Federal High Court, Gusau had declared that the PDP governorship primary Election in Zamfara state claimed to have been held on 25th May, 2022 was conducted in flagrant violation of Section 50(2) (b) & (3) of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).
The Court also gave an order of injunction restraining the PDP from submitting the name of Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare to be the PDP’s flag bearer for the governorship election in Zamfara state unless a valid Primary Election is conducted in compliance with the 2017 Constitution and Electoral Guidelines of the PDP.
Justice Aliyu also directed INEC to accept the governorship candidate of the PDP in Zamfara state for the 2023 general election upon the valid conduct of primary election on the Order of Court.
Responding to the development in a statement released to newsmen Tuesday in Abuja, North-west APC national vice chairman, Salihu Moh. Lukman, said PDP must not be allowed to take Nigeria back to the dark period of unfair and illegal determination of election results based on imposition of candidates.
The APC chieftain said with the judgement, as it stands now, PDP has no candidate for the March 11, 2023 governorship election in Zamfara state.
The ruling party called on INEC and all patriotic Nigerians, especially APC leaders in the North-west and all its candidates for the 2023 elections at all levels to be vigilant to stop the PDP from attempting to impose their ‘candidates’ as winners.
“With this judgement, as it stands now, PDP has no candidate for the March 11, 2023 Governorship Election in Zamfara State. The order of the Federal High Court, Gusau, presided by Honourable Justice Aminu B. Aliyu, is that the PDP should conduct a valid primary election under the supervision of INEC for enlistment as PDP’s candidate for 2023 General Election.
“INEC should therefore immediately delete the PDP and its claimed candidate for Zamfara State March 11, 2023 Governorship Election from the list of candidates. PDP and any considered candidate for the party for 2023 Governorship Election should only be enlisted if provisions of the PDP 2017 Constitution as amended and provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 are met as directed by Honourable Justice Aminu B. Aliyu.
“By its conduct, PDP is only working to win the 2023 elections through rigging. A party that manages its internal contests in breach of its own rules can only win elections by unfair and illegal means. Therefore, in addition to delisting PDP and its 2023 Governorship candidate for Zamfara State as directed by the order of the Federal High Court, Gusau, INEC must take every step to ensure that PDP’s conduct of disrespect for its own rules is not allowed to pollute the 2023 elections.
“Nigerian democracy has come of age. PDP must not be allowed to take Nigeria back to the dark period of unfair and illegal determination of election results based on imposition of candidates and winners of election, which is what the judgement by the Federal High Court, Gusau exposes.
“INEC and all patriotic Nigerians, especially APC leaders in the North-west and all our candidates for the 2023 elections at all levels must be very vigilant to stop the PDP from attempting to impose their ‘candidates’ as winners.”
