A presidential hopeful and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Okey Uzoho, has dragged his Party to court for allegedly denying him the opportunity to contest in its May 28th presidential primary.
TrackNews reports that in an originating summons marked FCT/CV/144/2022 and filed at the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Uzoho listed the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first and second defendants.
According to the presidential hopeful, his inability to purchase the expensive expression of interest and nomination forms for presidential aspirants will prevent him from participating in the main opposition primary.
This newspaper reports that the PDP had fixed N40 million for its expression of interest and nomination forms for presidential aspirants. Which looks affordable compared to the N100 million the ruling All Progressives Congress has slammed on its forms.
In the summons, Uzoho said the action of the PDP in setting a monetary condition as additional qualification for aspirants is in violation of the 1999 constitution and section 84(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The lawyer said it was sad that he will be denied the opportunity of participating in the presidential primary on the grounds that he could not submit a bank draft in the sum of N40 million.
He added that aside from the form fee, he met all the requirements of the 1999 constitution and extant laws for participation in the presidential primary of the party for the 2023 election.
He asked the court to determine “whether having regard to section 131 read along with Section 1(1) and (3) of the 1999 constitution, the PDP is entitled to impose or interpose as additional qualification/s the payment of N40 million, as further qualification to seek the party’s sponsorship for election to the office of president of Nigeria”.
Uzoho is seeking N50 million as compensation for the “anxiety, inconvenience, and loss of valuable campaign time” over his inability to participate in the presidential primary.
He also asked the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the PDP and INEC from excluding him from the presidential primary, as well as an order of injunction compelling the PDP to ensure his participation in the primary.
