Appeal Court Turns Down Pdp’s Suit Against Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appealed to the court of appeal in Abuja, seeking to have Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima disqualified from running for president and vice president of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

The PDP alleged that Shettima's selection as Tinubu's running mate violated the terms of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act of 2022 in the lawsuit filed on July 28, 2022.

Shettima's nomination to run for vice president and the Borno central senatorial seat at the same time, according to the party, was illegal.

PDP requested a ruling that would have invalidated Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC's eligibility to run in the presidential election.

The trial judge, Inyang Ekwo, dismissed the case nonetheless on the grounds that the PDP lacked locus standi to bring it.

The PDP challenged the verdict because it was unsatisfied.

The PDP failed to prove that it had locus standi to bring the appeal, according to a three-member panel of the court of appeal chaired by James Abundaga, who delivered the decision in the case on Friday.

The PDP, according to Abundaga, was a "busybody" who meddled in APC's internal problems.

He declared, "This appeal fails and is accordingly rejected. The appellant has failed to reveal its locus standi."

The judge also fined J. O. Olotu, the appellant's attorney, N5 million in costs.

At the presidential contest held on February 25, Tinubu was declared the winner.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party's (LP) presidential candidate, also referenced Shettima's selection for two different positions in his petition contesting Tinubu's victory.