A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has dismissed a suit filed by Umar Faruk, a former State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who sought to reclaim leadership of the party in Sokoto State. Justice Ahmad Gama ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction over the internal affairs of a political party and that the plaintiffs had failed to exhaust the ADC's internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
Background of the Suit
Faruk and other plaintiffs had filed the suit in July, alleging that new entrants had seized control of the party's structure in the state. They asked the court to reinstate Faruk as the substantive chairman of the ADC in Sokoto. The case was heard at the Federal High Court in Sokoto, with Justice Ahmad Gama presiding.
In his ruling, Justice Gama dismissed the case for lack of merit and evidence, resolving all four reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in favour of the respondents. The judge stated that courts do not have the power to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party, a principle that formed the basis of the dismissal.
Court's Reasoning and Legal Principles
Justice Gama pointed out that Faruk and those suing alongside him had not first gone through the party's own internal dispute resolution process before approaching the court. This failure to exhaust internal remedies was a key factor in the court's decision. The judge also noted that the plaintiffs were unable to show that any of their fundamental human rights had been violated, which further weakened their case.
The ruling underscores the legal principle that courts generally refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of political parties, unless there is a clear violation of constitutional or statutory provisions. In this instance, the court found no such violation, leading to the dismissal of the suit.
Reaction from Respondents' Counsel
Suleiman Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who represented the respondents, welcomed the ruling and described it as sound and commendable. He said the judge remained neutral throughout the proceedings and noted that winning a case requires proof backed by substantial evidence.
Usman added that the judgment strengthened Nigeria's democratic system and contributed positively to constitutional jurisprudence in the country. The ruling effectively upholds the current leadership of the ADC in Sokoto State, putting an end to the legal challenge mounted by Faruk and his co-plaintiffs.
The dismissal of the suit is a significant development in the ADC's internal affairs in Sokoto State, as it affirms the party's leadership structure and reinforces the importance of adhering to internal dispute resolution mechanisms before seeking judicial intervention.
