By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Bauchi State has called on the State judiciary to immediately vacate an interim injunction halting the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) gubernatorial primary election.
The coalition, operating under the aegis of Concerned Civil Society Organisations in Bauchi State, described the court order as an illegal interference in political party affairs that violates the Electoral Act, 2026.
The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed by one Idrees Safiyanu Gambo against the PRP, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Recall that the High Court in Bauchi State granted an interim order restraining the PRP from conducting its governorship primary election and congresses.
The order also stopped INEC from monitoring or participating in the primary selection process.
In a statement signed by the coalition’s convener, Najim Nurudeen, the groups while reading the statement during a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre Bauchi, argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to stall the election.
“Section 88(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026 explicitly bars courts from granting ex parte or interim injunctions to stop political party primaries, congresses, or conventions” It said.
The coalition noted that any judicial order issued in direct contradiction of statutory limitations is legally null, void, and of no consequence.
The statement cited landmark Supreme Court rulings, including Onuoha v. Okafor and Dalhatu v. Turaki, which established that the nomination of candidates is strictly an internal party affair.
The CSOs firmly requested the court to exercise its inherent powers to reverse itself suo motu (on its own motion) to restore public confidence in the judicial system.
According to them, “Once the law expressly removes or limits the jurisdiction of the court over a particular subject matter, any order made contrary thereto becomes a nullity,” Nurudeen stated. He emphasized that the group’s intervention is non-partisan and aimed solely at defending constitutional democracy.
Warning against a repeat of past political crises in the state, the coalition urged politicians to exercise restraint and avoid exploiting the situation to cause unrest.
They further appealed to PRP party faithful and the general public to remain law-abiding while legal steps are taken to review and vacate the injunction.
