Court dismisses suit challenging Sokoto ADC leadership

The Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has dismissed a suit filed by a former Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, Umar Faruk, challenging the party’s leadership structure.

Justice Ahmad Gama dismissed the suit on Friday for lack of merit and evidence, ruling in favour of the respondents on the four reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

Faruk and others had instituted the suit in July, alleging that new entrants into the party had hijacked its structure in Sokoto State.

The plaintiffs had asked the court to restore Faruk as the substantive state chairman of the party.

However, after hearing arguments from counsel representing both parties, Justice Gama held that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party.

The judge also faulted the plaintiffs for failing to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.

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He further observed that the plaintiffs failed to establish that their fundamental human rights had been violated.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the respondents, Suleiman Usman, SAN, described the ruling as sound and commendable.

Usman said the judge demonstrated neutrality in handling the matter, stressing that litigants must support their claims with substantial evidence to secure favourable judgments.

He added that the judgment will strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system and contribute to the development of constitutional jurisprudence in the country.