The court rejected the challenging parties’ nomination fee demands

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, dismissed a lawsuit filed by a human rights lawyer, Ejime Okolie, challenging the exorbitant nomination fees of political parties.

Okolie has filed the case to challenge the alleged imposition of outrageous expression of interest and nomination fees for card-holding members vying for political office in the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and 19 political parties are listed as respondents in the lawsuit.

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Justice Nyako, in his ruling, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the matter raised by the lawyers was entirely an internal matter of the political party and that the court would not intervene in the case.

According to the judge, excessive fees charged by a political party do not mean that the constitution is wrong.

He observed that although all parties to the lawsuit had been served with court documents, only a few of them had responded.

He said only a few respondents raised initial objections and questioned Okolie’s legal right to file the case.

Therefore, the judge said that political parties have their own rules and guidelines, even though the constitution gives everyone the right to associate.

He said a member is free to leave one party for another if he is dissatisfied with the way and manner a party is running its affairs.

Justice Nyako, who appreciated Okolie’s efforts in filing the suit, said the application failed.