…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
The special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on digital communications, Bashir Ahmad, has expressed his opinion regarding Peter Obi’s legitimacy as the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate for the upcoming 2023 elections.
Ahmad criticized Obi for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joining the Labour Party, where he emerged as the presidential candidate.
Questioning Peter Obi’s Legitimacy:
Ahmad argued that Peter Obi was not legitimately qualified to become the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, particularly under the amended Electoral Act.
According to Ahmad, Obi’s decision to defect to the Labour Party was not timely, and he should not have been allowed to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate.
Ahmad also criticized the emotional rather than rational decision-making process within the party.
Federal High Court Invalidates Labour Party Candidates:
Coincidentally, Ahmad’s observation comes at a time when a Federal High Court in Kano, led by Justice M N Yunusa, invalidated the candidacies of Abia State’s Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti, and all other Labour Party candidates in Abia and Kano states.
The court ruling stated that the selection process of these candidates did not comply with the requirements laid out in the 2022 electoral act.
Background on Abia State’s Governor-elect:
Naija News recalls that Dr. Alex Otti, as the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Abia State, emerged as the winner in the March 2023 election.
However, the recent court ruling has nullified his victory and deemed the selection process invalid.
Court Case and Ruling:
The case, identified as suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023, was filed by Mr. Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court concluded that the Labour Party failed to submit its membership register to INEC at least 30 days before their primaries, which rendered the selection process invalid according to the requirements set by the 2022 electoral act.