Supreme Court Rejects The PDP's Lawsuit And Upholds Tinubu's Eligibility For The Presidency

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, was found to be eligible to run in the February 25 presidential election, according to the Supreme Court.

On Friday, the top court ruled unanimously that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party had the right to appeal. PDP lacked merit when it was filed to contest the legitimacy of Tinubu's candidacy.

It informed the court that Shettima received two nominations—one for the Vice Presidential position and the other for the Borno Central Senatorial seat.

The Supreme Court confirmed the concurrent rulings of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Court of Appeal, which had previously dismissed the PDP's challenge.

It concurred with the respondents that neither section 149 of the Electoral Act of 2022 nor section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provided the locus standi (legal right) to contest Shettima's candidacy on the grounds of double nomination.

The Supreme Court confirmed the concurrent rulings of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Court of Appeal, which had previously dismissed the PDP's challenge.

It concurred with the respondents that neither section 149 of the Electoral Act of 2022 nor section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provided the locus standi (legal right) to contest Shettima's candidacy on the grounds of double nomination.

The supreme court ruled that section 84 of the Electoral Act only gave an aspirant the right to contest the party's nomination of a candidate if they had taken part in the party's primary election.

The Supreme Court confirmed the concurrent rulings of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Court of Appeal, which had previously dismissed the PDP's challenge.

It concurred with the respondents that neither section 149 of the Electoral Act of 2022 nor section 285 (14) (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provided the locus standi (legal right) to contest Shettima's candidacy on the grounds of double nomination.

The supreme court ruled that section 84 of the Electoral Act only gave an aspirant the right to contest the party's nomination of a candidate if they had taken part in the party's primary election.

It was ruled that the PDP had failed to prove that the APC's nomination had caused it harm, highlighting the fact that it is against the law for one political party to meddle in the internal affairs of another.