A presidential aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ayoola Falola, yesterday approached a Federal High Court in Ibadan to nullify the processes of the primary election of the party ahead of the 2023 general election.
The suit, FHC/IB/C5/67/2022, is challenging the party for charging N40millon for the nomination form for the forthcoming presidential election.
PDP had fixed its expression of interest and nomination forms at N40million. So far, no fewer than 14 presidential hopefuls, including a former vice- president, serving governors and businessmen have picked the forms.
The Ibadan-born aspirant, who is in his 30s, also joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu in the suit.
In his prayers in the suit, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, Falola deposed that the party lacked the power to issue guidelines requesting payment for nomination and expression of interest forms from the claimant or any other member aspiring to contest public office in the coming general election.
Citing Section 84(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and sections 65, 66,106, 107, 131, 137,177,187, 224 and 15(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the plaintiff prayed that the court should declare the process null and void.
He declared that INEC had the power to monitor the operations of the PDP with regard to imposition in its constitution, guidelines or rules additional nomination qualification or disqualification criteria.
Falola argued that the PDP lacked the power to disenfranchise him from contesting the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the basis that he didn’t pay the fees imposed by the party for the purchase of nomination and expression of interest forms.
The preliminary hearing of the case is fixed for tomorrow.