Court dismisses PDP’s suit to disqualify Tinubu, Shettima

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party, seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kassim Shettima, from the 2023 general elections.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ekwo, dismissed the suit on the ground that the PDP lacked locus standi to institute the suit.

Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the case was caught by the principle of issue estoppel, and described the suit as an abuse of the court process.

In its Originating Summons, the PDP challenged the validity of Bola Tinubu to contest for the 2023 presidential election as APC candidate on the ground that Mr Shettima’s nomination as his running mate was in breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The PDP argued that Mr Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice president and Borno Central Senatorial seat contravened the law.

The PDP, which sought an order disqualifying the APC, Tinubu and Shettima from contesting the presidential election scheduled for Feb. 25, also sought an order nullifying their candidacy.

It further sought an order compelling INEC to remove their names from its list of nominated or sponsored candidates eligible to contest the poll.

But the defendants, in their preliminary objection, urged the court to dismiss the suit for want of jurisdiction.

They argued that the PDP lacked the locus standi (legal right) to file the case, which invariably was challenging the political party’s decision and its nomination of candidates for the polls.

They further submitted that such an act was an internal affair of APC which they argued was non-justiciable.

Justice Ekwo agreed with the defendants that the PDP had no locus standi to file the matter.

According to him, where there is no locus, the court has no jurisdiction.

GROUP CALLS ON FG TO RELEASE NNAMDI KANU

The spokesperson of Coalition of United Political Parties says his worried about the alleged deteriorating health condition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody, urging President Muhammadu Buhari, to free Kanu on health ground.

Addressing journalists in Akokwa, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Ikenga said freeing the IPOB leader will be for the interest of national unity, equity and justice and will also help douse tensions in the South East region.

The CUPP Spokesperson who is also the PDP candidate for Ideato North and South Federal constituency Noted that the continuous detention of kanu is illegal despite a judgement by an appeal court in Abuja and State high court Umuahia which ordered his release.