Court Rejects PDP's Challenge to Kwara Local Elections

The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) case aimed at overturning the local government elections in Kwara State. Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the PDP had previously participated in the elections and filed about 24 petitions against the results, all of which were dismissed without appeal.

The PDP sought to amend its case to nullify the elections, but Justice Lifu stated that this amendment changed the nature of the action from a pre-election challenge to a post-election one, which the court could not entertain. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1061/2024, was filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission.

The court found that the PDP's claims were statute-barred and that the party's continued pursuit of the matter constituted an abuse of court process. Justice Lifu concluded that the PDP could not seek remedies through an amended summons after failing in its election petitions.