By Deborah Onyofufeke
Justice Donatus Okorowo, of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Monday, Dismissed the suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi and the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The court, in it’s judgement, held that the suit filed by the PDP, against the two presidential candidates, lacked merit, was incompetent and amounts to gross abuse of the Judicial process
Hence, the court, refused to grant the prayers of the PDP which is to disqualify Mr Peter Obi and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from participating in the 2023 presidential election.
Justice Okorowo, dismissed the suit, stating that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain an incompetent suit
PDP had dragged the LP and APC presidential candidates to court, accusing both flag bearers of breaching the Electoral Act, when they both failed to nominate their running mate in due time and went for the option of temporarily handing over their vice presidential tickets to placeholders
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PDP explained to the court that while Obi, chose Dr. Doyin Okupe, as the placeholder for his Vice Presidential post, Tinubu, submitted the name of Alhaji Kabiru Masari, as his placeholder.
The Plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1016/2022, contended that the Electoral Act, 2022, did not make provision for a “place holder” or temporary running mate.
It argued that the subsequent resignation, withdrawal or substitution of Okupe and Masari, by both the LP and the APC, were illegal and unconstitutional.
PDP maintained that Obi and Tinubu could only qualify to contest the 2023 presidential election with Okupe and Masari, as their respective running mate.
It faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for accepting any withdrawal or substitution of both Okupe and Masari, without the LP and the APC conducting fresh primaries to substitute Obi and Tinubu.
PDP argued that both Okupe and Masari are not products of any primary election and as such were not validly nominated by the LP and the APC.
