The presidential election petition tribunal has dismissed
the petition of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the eligibility
of Peter Obi to contest the 2023 general election.
The APC had challenged Obi’s membership of the Labour Party
(LP), declaring it incompetent.
Justice Abba Mohammed, a member of the five-member panel who
read the lead judgment, said that membership in a political party is an
internal affair.
Tinubu and Shettima had contended that they had the locus
standi to institute the petition on the grounds that Obi only joined the LP few
days before the election, instead of the mandatory 30 days.
However, the court held that it is not the prerogative of
Tinubu and Shettima to challenge Obi’s candidacy.
“The issue of membership of a political party is an internal
party affair,” Mohammed said.
The tribunal also dismissed the objection raised by the
respondents contending that Obi and LP failed to join Atiku Abubakar, candidate
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a respondent in their petition.
The court held that Section 133 of the Electoral Act
provides that the loser and winner of an election, as well as the person/body
who conducted the election, are to be joined as respondents.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Congrats to obi the incoming president of the fed Republic of ipob
ReplyDelete