…Dismisses suit against Tinubu, Shettima
The Supreme Court has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly setting a trap through social media to blackmail the apex court.
This was made known by the Justices of the apex court when they dismissed the suit by the PDP seeking the disqualification of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, in the February 25 presidential election over the alleged double nomination of the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima.
In a strongly worded statement, the court expressed deep disappointment and characterised the situation as both regrettable and unnecessary.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment yesterday, delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, held that the case of the PDP was incompetent and lacking in merit because it lacked the necessary legal authority to initiate the suit in the first place.
It agreed with the lower courts that the PDP lacks the locus standi to institute such a case, noting that the party acted as a meddlesome interloper and a busy-body, as it is an internal affair of the APC.
The Supreme Court awarded the sum of N2 million against the PDP and held that their attitude amounts to misleading the court, describing the move as “sad”.
The PDP had in its suit, claimed that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate was in breach of the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 36, and 84 (1)(2) of the Electoral Act 2022. Specifically, the PDP had sought the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima over alleged double nomination; an act which they say violates the electoral laws.
PDP had claimed that the APC breached the law when it nominated Shettima as the senatorial candidate for Borno-Central and as the vice-presidential candidate.
