By Adeleye Ahmed
The supreme court resolved May 26 to deliver judgment in a suit wanting the disqualification of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The judgment will be delivered three days before the installation of the President-elect and the Vice President-elect.
The PDP, in the suit filed on July 28, 2022, claimed that Shettima’s choice as Tinubu’s running mate violated the requirements of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the electoral act, 2022.
The party insisted that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of Vice-President and Borno central senatorial seat at the same time contravened the law.
The PDP, which strived an order disqualifying the APC, Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the presidential election, also strived an order nullifying their candidacies.
Nonetheless, Inyang Ekwo, the trial judge at the court of appeal, terminated the suit on the grounds that the PDP lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.
Not comfortable, the PDP appealed the judgment A three-member panel of the court of appeal Delivering judgment in the appeal, led by James Abundaga held that the PDP failed to ascertain that it had locus standi to institute the case.
Abundaga described the PDP as a “busybody”, who played into issues that were internal affairs of the APC.
The appellant, having failed to reveal 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
