Uncertainty over Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on Monday, May 29 looms as the Supreme Court has fixed Friday, May 26 to deliver its judgment in a suit seeking the nullification of the President-elect and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima’s candidature in the 2023 presidential election.
The suit was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on July 28, 2022.
The party challenged the validity of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for the February 25, 2023, presidential election because Shettima’s nomination as a vice-presidential candidate and senatorial candidate for Borno Central amounted to double nomination, which contravenes the provisions of Sections 29(1), 33, 35 and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended.
The PDP, therefore, prayed the court to disqualify the All Progressives Congress, APC, Tinubu, and Shettima from contesting the presidential election and to nullify Tinubu and Shettima’s candidacy.
The Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja had earlier dismissed the matter.
On January 13, 2023, Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja dismissed the suit for lacking merit because the PDP lacked the legal right to institute the suit.
Not satisfied with the lower court’s judgement, the PDP appealed the judgment but the three-man panel headed by Justice James Abundaga, in a unanimous judgment, also dismissed the suit.
The court, on March 24, 2023, held that “the appeal is bereft of merit”, describing the PDP as a “busybody” who dabbled into issues that were the internal affairs of the APC.
By taking the matter to the Supreme Court, the PDP seeks to reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The apex court’s verdict on Friday could have overreaching implications. If the judgment is in favour of the PDP, Tinubu’s inauguration would be jeopardised since he and Shettima were elected on a joint ticket.
