The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the alleged double nomination of Kassim Shettima, now the Vice President-elect.
The apex court agreed with the lower courts that the PDP lacks the locus standi to institute the law suit.
Justice Adamu Jauro, who read the judgment, noted that the PDP acted as meddlesome Interloper and a busy body, being an internal affair of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Thus, the court dismissed the suit for lacking in merit, and awarded the sum of two million Naira (N2,000,000) cost against the PDP.
The Justices further held that the attitude of the appellant (PDP), amounts to misleading the court, describing the move as “sad”.
Shettima withdrew his Senate nomination on July 6, 2022 and was subsequently replaced. At that point, he was no longer a candidate for the Senate, and as such his position as vice president did not constitute a multiple nomination breach.
On the case of Uche Nwosu (Imo State), which the PDP relied on, the Supreme Court Justices reminded the petitioner that they made the decision as at that time and are fully aware of the details.
Uche Nwosu, in his case, got nominated by two political parties for different positions. They held that the PDP’s suit was bound to fail right from the trial court, to the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
The justices held that no matter the pains of the PDP on how the APC conducted its primary elections and nominated its candidate, the PDP ought to remain an onlooker.
They also reminded the PDP of the same issue in 1999 where Atiku Abubakar was nominated for the seat of governor, but later moved on to become the vice presidential candidate to Olusegun Obasanjo.
In that case, Atiku’s running mate – Boni Haruna – took over the governorship nomination. INEC wanted to conduct a fresh election then, but the party kicked against it until it got to the Supreme Court.
The court asked the opposition party rhetorically what has changed since 1999.