14th September, 2023.
PRES RELEASE
HIGH OF JUSTICE STRUCK OUT PEOPLES’ DEMOCRATIC PARTY’s (PDP) AGAINST JIGAWA STATE INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSION
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken legal action against the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JSIEC) in a case numbered JDU/24/2023. The case, filed by the PDP, seeks to challenge the powers of the JSIEC in not allowing the party to field a candidate in Councillorship a Bye-Election in Gwaram Ward of Gwaram Local Government Area.
The crux of the PDP’s suit was that the timetable for the by-election had not been amended in accordance with observations made by the Claimant’s representative and other political parties. Furthermore, the Claimant contends that the amended timetable was never served upon them, hindering their ability to adequately prepare for the Bye-Election.
Adding to their grievances, the PDP also raises an issue that the JSIEC did not monitor the primary election conducted by the Claimant’s officials despite verbal invitations extended to the Defendant’s Acting Chairman and its staff stationed at Gwaram, requesting their presence to witness or monitor the primary election.
The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission, represented by the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, contested the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain a pre-election matter connected to a local government election. In a pivotal legal battle, the Court, under the distinguished leadership of Honourable Justice Mustapha Bello Adamu, recently delivered its verdict.
After a thorough review of arguments presented by the Attorney-General and Counsel to the Plaintiff, Sule Umar Esq., the Court agreed with the Attorney General’s argument. It ruled that the suit, indeed, was a pre-election matter related to a local government election, and, as such, the Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain it. Consequently, the case was struck out.
Zainab Baba Santali,
Public Relations Officer,
Jigawa State Ministry of Justice
September 14, 2023.
