An appellate court in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demanding that All Progressives’ (APC) Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima be unrecognized as presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
In a lawsuit July 28, 2022, PDP claimed that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate was in breach of the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, TheCable reports.
PDP further argued that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice-president and Borno central senatorial seat — at the same time — contravened the law.
PDP, however, demanded the court to disqualify Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the presidential election. Not only that, the opposition party sought an order to nullify their (Tinubu and Shettima) candidacy.
But the trial judge, Inyang Ekwo, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the PDP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit. Not satisfied, the PDP appealed the judgment.
Delivering judgment in the appeal on Friday, a three-member panel of the court of appeal led by James Abundaga held that the PDP failed to establish that it had locus standi to institute the case.
Abundaga described PDP as a “busybody”, who dabbled into issues that were internal affairs of the APC.
“The appellant, having failed to disclose its locus standi, this appeal fails and it is hereby dismissed,” he said.
The judge also awarded N5 million cost against the appellant’s lawyer, J. O. Olotu.
Tinubu was declared the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, PDP’s Abubakar Atiku came second and Peter Obi of the Labour Party came a distant third.
In his petition challenging Tinubu’s victory, Peter Obi, just like PDP, cited Shettima’s nomination for two separate positions.
