Shehu Sani To Political Parties: Avoid ‘Booby Traps’ To Prevent Losing Elections In Court

A former Kaduna Central Senator and human rights activist, Shehu Sani, has advised political parties in Nigeria to take note of certain activities regarding membership and conduct of primaries for the emergence of candidates as they may turn to traps that could hook them after elections and perhaps lead to losing victory in court.

Sani’s advice follows the aftermath of the 2023 general elections, particularly some court judgments that were based on validity of membership and sponsorship of a candidate for an election by political parties.

Sani’s comment via his X page was apparently in reaction to the Abuja Appeal Court’s rulings on the March 18 governorship elections in Kano and Plateau States.

“Now that the Courts are using party membership, party Congresses and party primaries to upturn the results of general elections, political parties must take serious note of these traps,” Sani stated.

“Pay your party monthly membership dues before the judges call for the party books and accountant,” the ex-lawmaker further advised, albeit with a satirical tone.

Recall that On Friday, 17 November, the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja upheld the judgment of the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Kabir Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as governor of Kano State.

The appellate court held that Yusuf was not a valid member of NNPP at the time of the election and could not be said to have been validly sponsored by the party as required by law.

Also, in a ruling delivered on Sunday, November 19, the court nullified the election of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the ground that he did not emerge as a candidate through a valid primary. The court further held that Mutfwang was also not validly sponsored by the PDP.

Sani in another tweet on Sunday, condemned the Appeal Court ruling, saying it is “heist of the will of the people given at the polls. “The Court of Appeal’s Judgement against the electoral victory of the Plateau State Governor is unfortunate, unacceptable, and condemnable. A broad daylight heist of the will of the people. The bench is becoming the coffin of democracy,” Sani wrote.