COURT OF APPEAL RULES ON THE PDP'S LAWSUIT AGAINST TINUBU

The Court of Appeal rules on the PDP's lawsuit against Tinubu and Shettima, awarding the appellant's attorney N5 million.

A three-member panel presided over by Justice James Abundaga ruled unanimously on Friday that the PDP had failed to establish locus standi to bring the case and that, as a result, the appellant lacked the authority to begin the legal action.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, the APC, Tinubu, and Shettima were the respondents in the appeal, with the PDP as the appellant.

In a lawsuit filed on July 28, 2022, the PDP had contested the Tinubu/Shettima ticket for the 2023 presidential election.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed an appeal with the Federal Capital Territory's Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, from the February 25 election.

It asserted that Shettima had received two nominations and that her selection as running mate therefore violated Sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 841(2) of the Electoral Act of 2022 (as amended).

According to reports, the PDP requested that the appellate court reverse the decision made on January 13 by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who dismissed the PDP's lawsuit on the grounds that the PDP lacked locus standi to bring the action.