A Federal High Court sitting in Kano ruled on Friday that statutory delegates in any political party are allowed to participate in the voting process of the political party. This ruling supports the constitution on Section 84 of the electoral act which was amended by the National assembly in May.
The court on Friday under the jurisdiction of Hon. Justice A.M Liman interpreted the section to mean that statutory delegates were not excluded from voting at conventions, congress, or meetings of their political parties.
The lawsuit was filed on the 24th of May by Sen. Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa, Hon. Habibu Sani and Hon. Bilyaminu Yusuf Shin’Kafi, aspirants of the party, to prevent statutory delegates from participating in the primaries. A counter affidavit was however filed by Adamu on the 1st of June, 2022. The court delivered judgment on the 3rd of June, giving statutory delegates the right to vote.
What this means for the All progressive Congress is that Statutory delegates which would include, ward, local government, state and national executives of the party, the President, Vice President, former Presidents, former vice Presidents who are members of the party; Governors, Deputy Governors, former Governors, former deputy Governors, Council Chairmen, serving Councilors and past Council chairman, would be allowed to vote in the upcoming convention.
This would increase the number of the delegates from 2340 delegates to 7800 delegates if they are all allowed to vote.
Meanwhile, the independent electoral commission said that they have not received the court’s judgment yet and the case would be processed once it gets to the headquarters of INEC as they normally comply with the court’s judgments.
