2023: Court strikes out suit seeking Tinubu’s disqualification

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Tinubu for nominating a Muslim-Muslim candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

In his decision, Justice Ahmed Mohammed dismissed the suit filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Osigwe Momoh, on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to file it.

Justice Mohammed ruled that because the lawyer was not a member of the APC and did not participate in the process that produced Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shetima, he could not challenge their nominations.

According to the judge, having perused the originating summons of the suit, I am unable to see where the plaintiff was an aspirant in the election.

“Having found that the plaintiff lacks the locus standi, the court has no jurisdiction to proceed with the matter and the proceedings will terminate at this point.

“This matter is hereby struck out for want of jurisdiction,”the judge said.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Momoh had in the suit prayed the court for an order disqualifying the APC and nullifying the candidature of Tinubu from participating in the presidential election.

He said this was on the grounds that the nomination of a Muslim-Muslim candidacy was unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of Sections 14, 15 and 224 of the 1999 Constitution.

Specifically, the lawyer who claimed to be an apostle of the rule of law and social justice argued that a Muslim-Muslim candidacy ran counter to the spirit of national cohesion, integration and unity.

He asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of APC and its presidential candidate for the purpose of the 2023 election. (NAN)