Court dismisses suit seeking Tinubu's disqualification over same-faith ticket

• Published date: 18 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

AFederal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by an Abuja-based lawyer, Osigwe Momoh, seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over the party's choice of a same-faith ticket for the February 25 election.

In a judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, held the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to have approached the court on the issue.

Justice Mohammed noted having not shown that he is a member of the APC or he participated in the primary election that produced Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shetima as the party's candidates, the plaintiff lacked the legal capacity to query their nomination.

The judge, who upheld the preliminary objection filed by the APC and Tinubu, held that the lack of locus standi on the part of the plaintiff has robbed the court of the jurisdiction to hear the suit.

Momoh had stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the APC has a duty, in nominating a joint ticket for the presidential and vice-presidential candidate, owe a constitutional duty, to uphold the principles of social justice, equity, national cohesion and unity of Nigeria.

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