The Federal High Court Katsina annulled the Peoples Democratic Party primary election that had chosen Muritala Shehu to represent the Malumfashi/Kafur Federal Constituency in Katsina State. However, the Court of Appeal has since overturned that judgement.
Murtala filed the appeal after the Federal High Court of Katsina, Nigeria, nullified November 23, 2022, results of the primary election in which he had defeated Nasiru Sa'ad Ahmed.
On January 27, 2023, the Court of Appeal delivered a unanimous judgement overturning the Federal High Court's order upholding the PDP primary election held for the Malumfashi/Kafur Constituency and naming Muritala Shehu, who garnered the most votes, as the party's House of Representatives candidate.
The respondent, Nasiru Sa'ad Ahmed, failed to provide any paperwork to the court in response to the appeal before time passed, therefore the court only took into account the appellant's brief argument.
“The judgement represents the true position of the PDP primary election conducted on May 22, 2022, wherein the appellant, Murtala Shehu emerged as the winner,” said Katsina PDP Legal Adviser, Barrister Mahutta Mustapha, in response to the ruling.
“It also represents the true wish of the delegates from Malumfashi/Kafur Constituency who voted for Murtala Shehu wherein he had 34 votes in the primary election, while his opponent had 29 votes.”
Also, “certainly, cases between members of the party do not result in anything beneficial to the party,” he said. “They should unite and support whoever emerges.”