The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lost its bid to overturn the Kwara State local government election. The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the party’s case on Tuesday. Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the PDP had already participated in the election. The party also challenged the results through election petitions.
However, the court found serious problems with the PDP’s fresh claim. The party initially sought to stop the election from taking place. It also wanted the Independent National Electoral Commission to withhold the voter register. Despite the case, the election went ahead. The PDP later contested the poll and filed about 24 petitions against the results.
The court said the PDP could not change its case after losing those petitions. According to Justice Lifu, the amendment changed the case from a pre-election dispute into a post-election challenge.
“The amendment fundamentally altered the character of the action,” he held.
The judge also said the Federal High Court could not act as an election tribunal.
Furthermore, Justice Lifu ruled that the amended case had become statute-barred. He also agreed that the PDP’s action amounted to an abuse of court process.
“The plaintiff voluntarily participated in the said elections, presented election petitions, and failed in all of them,” the court held.
The judge said the party could not use another legal route to seek remedies unavailable through election petitions.
“The court lacked jurisdiction to start as an election tribunal,” he ruled.
The decision leaves the PDP’s attempt to nullify the Kwara council election unsuccessful.
