- The court averred that the issue of candidacy is an internal matter of the party, so it does not affect the plaintiffs, let alone interfere in it
- APC and Gawuna had asked the court to annul the election of Abba over the status of his membership of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP)
The Kano State Governorship election tribunal has ruled that the issue of membership of a political party cannot be adjudicated on by the court.
This is as the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuana, challenging the legitimacy of the candidature of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The court averred that the issue of candidacy is an internal matter of the party, so it does not affect the plaintiffs, let alone interfere in it.
APC and Gawuna had asked the court to annul the election of Abba over the status of his membership of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP).
They had petitioned the tribunal that Abba is not a full member of the NNPP, and he was not in its register when it nominated him, so he was not fit to contest.
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal had similarly dismissed APC petition to challenge Peter Obi’s membership of the Labour Party (LP).
While delivering judgment, the court held that an individual’s membership of a political party is an internal matter.
The decision weakened APC’s claim regarding Obi’s political affiliation and membership status of the LP.
The ruling reinforced the principle that political parties have the authority to manage their internal affairs, including matters related to party membership