Supreme Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Tinubu and Shettima’s Candidacy, Citing Lack of Locus Standi

PDP’s Suit Dismissed by Supreme Court

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of President-elect Bola Tinubu and his vice Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The five-member panel concluded that the PDP lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the suit, citing the fact that the PDP is not a member of the APC.

Allegations of Breach of Electoral Act

The crux of the PDP’s case centered around its claim that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate violated several provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

According to the opposition party, Shettima’s simultaneous candidacy for the vice-presidential position and the Borno Central senatorial seat contravened sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act.

In their argument, the PDP emphasized that allowing Shettima to run for two positions simultaneously was a breach of the law, asserting that it undermines the principles of fairness, equity, and the integrity of the electoral process.

However, the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the suit indicates that the panel found the PDP’s claims insufficient to warrant disqualification.

The court’s decision affirms the eligibility of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is as Nigeria warms up for the inauguration of the President-elect on Monday, May 29.