Federal High Court dismisses Umar Faruk’s suit challenging Sokoto ADC leadership
*Says court lacks jurisdiction over political party’s internal affairs
By OUR REPORTER, Sokoto
The judge also faulted the plaintiffs for failing to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court. He further ruled that they had failed to establish that their fundamental human rights were violated.
The Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has dismissed a suit filed by former African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairman in the state, Umar Faruk, challenging the party’s leadership structure.
Justice Ahmad Gama dismissed the suit on Friday for lack of merit and sufficient evidence, ruling against the plaintiffs on all four reliefs they sought.
Faruk and other plaintiffs instituted the suit in July, alleging that new entrants into the party had hijacked its leadership structure in Sokoto State. They asked the court to restore Faruk as the substantive state chairman of the ADC.
However, after hearing arguments from counsel to both parties, Justice Gama held that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party.
The judge also faulted the plaintiffs for failing to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court. He further ruled that they had failed to establish that their fundamental human rights were violated.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the respondents, Suleiman Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), described the ruling as sound and commendable.
Usman said the judge had demonstrated neutrality in handling the case, adding that litigants must support their claims with substantial evidence.
He commended the court’s decision, expressing confidence that the judgment would contribute to strengthening democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law in Nigeria.
The suit arose from disagreements over the ADC’s leadership structure in Sokoto State, with Faruk and the other plaintiffs seeking judicial intervention to reclaim control of the party’s state leadership.
