2023 Presidency: Aspirant Sues PDP, INEC Over N40m Nomination Form

Eighteen days to the presidential primary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Ayoola Falola, a presidential aspirant has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State to nullify the processes of the primary ahead of the 2023 general election.

Falola who is challenging the party for charging a sum of N40 million for its nomination form in the forthcoming presidential election also joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu in the suit.

It could be recalled that the opposition party had fixed its expression of interest and nomination forms at N40million and so far, no fewer than 17 presidential hopefuls, including a former vice-president, serving governors and businessmen have picked the forms.

In his prayers in the suit, FHC/IB/C5/67/2022, Falola deposed that the party lacks the power to issue guidelines requesting payment of nomination forms and expression of interest forms from the claimant of any other member aspiring to contest for a public office in the forthcoming general election of 2023.

Citing section 84(3) of the electoral act, 2022 and sections 65, 66,106, 107, 131, 137,177,187,224 and 224 and 15(2) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended, the plaintiff prayed that the court should declare the process as null and void.

He further declared that INEC has the power to monitor the operations of the PDP with regard to imposition in its constitution, guidelines or rules additional nomination qualifications or disqualification criteria.

Falola also argued that PDP lacks the power to disenfranchise him from contesting for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because he didn’t pay the fees imposed by the party for the purchase of the Nomination and expression of interest form.