…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.
Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson for President-elect Bola Tinubu, expressed his appreciation for the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit seeking the disqualification of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as the Presidential and Vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Background on the Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenged the alleged double nomination of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate.
The PDP claimed that Shettima’s nomination violated several provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, including Sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2).
PDP’s Argument
According to the PDP, Shettima’s acceptance of the nomination as the APC’s vice-presidential candidate on July 14 clashed with his position as the APC candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial District.
The PDP contended that this constituted a breach of the electoral laws.
Supreme Court’s Ruling
In its judgment, the Supreme Court’s five-member panel ruled that the PDP lacked the necessary legal standing (locus standi) to initiate the lawsuit.
The court considered the PDP’s appeal to be frivolous and destined to fail.
It stated that Section 284(14)(c) of the constitution does not permit a party to interfere in the internal affairs of another party, regardless of their grievances.
Onanuga’s Reaction and Invitation
Responding to the court’s decision, Bayo Onanuga took to Twitter to express his satisfaction.
He declared that the ruling removed the final obstacle to Tinubu and Shettima’s inauguration on Monday.
He also extended an invitation to Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and other democrats to join in commemorating the historic event.
Quotation from Onanuga’s Tweet
In his tweet, Onanuga stated, “Supreme Court dismisses PDP’s suit seeking to disqualify President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima over Shettima’s alleged double nomination.
With this ruling, the apex court has cleared the final booby trap to Bola Tinubu and Shettima’s inauguration on Monday.
We invite Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and other democrats to join us in marking this historic event, the re-enactment of what would have been in 1993.”