The primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the Kaduna Central Senatorial district of Kaduna state was conducted on May 23, 2022. Lawal Adamu Usman was declared winner of the primary, having polled 99 votes to defeat Usman Ibrahim, who came a distant second. However, there has been a dust that has continued to trail the conduct of the primary.
This is in spite of the fact that the primary was adjudged by many people including the party’s returning officer, Dingyadi, as the freest and fairest election in the PDP and Kaduna state in general.
Immediately after the result was declared and certificate issued to the winner (Lawal Adamu Usman), his opponent, Usman Ibrahim, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, challenging the victory of Lawal Adamu Usman.
The Federal High Court in Kaduna, presided over by Justice Umar Garba, nullified the primary in favour of Sardaunan Badarawa and ordered PDP to conduct a fresh primary election within 14 days. The party went ahead to conduct another primary within three days and declared Usman Ibrahim as the winner.
Lawal Adamu Usman, who won the first primary, appealed the judgement of the lower court at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. However, when the matter was brought before the appellate court, Justice Peter Affen in his judgement on Monday, 19th December, held that the Kaduna High Court went outside of its boundaries to inquire into the internal affairs of the party.
Hence, the case was set aside and Lawal Adamu Usman declared the authentic candidate for the Kaduna Central Senatorial zone. With the Appeal Court’s ruling, one expected Usman Ibrahim to accept the judgement in good faith and rally his support for Lawal Adamu Usman, the winner. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
According to the grapevine, he is preparing grounds for another appeal at the Supreme Court. Whether the speculation is true or not is immaterial. What baffles PDP supporters and other admirers in Kaduna central is the needless distraction or confusion the Sardaunan Badarawa is causing. After the Appeal Court’s ruling, like the proverbial wounded lion, Usman Ibrahim, in many media chats or interviews, still parades himself as the legitimate candidate for Kaduna central district in the 2023 senatorial election.
His actions do not only amount to needless distraction but also appear to be contempt of court, which is punishable by the law. Unless there is another court ruling that sets aside the judgement delivered by the Court of Appeal, Lawal Adamu Usman remains the only recognised and rightful candidate.
Sardaunan Badarawa should in the interest of peace, stop parading himself as the authentic candidate. Instead, he should approach his lawyers to seek legal interpretation and necessary advice. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, as the saying goes.
If he fails to abide by the Appeal Court’s judgement, the long arm of law may catch up with him. Those who are close to him should call his attention to this glaring illegality. The PDP stakeholders should prevail on Sardaunan Badarawa to sheathe his sword and rally support for the victory of PDP in Kaduna Central Senatorial district.
Ibrahim Mustapha,
Pambegua, Kaduna state