Justice Salami Declares Peter Obi Ineligible for 2023 Presidential Poll
By Ranti Thomas
A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami (retd), has said that Peter Obi should not have been allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party.
He made the statement on Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a visit by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, where he was honoured with an award.
According to him, the issue was linked to party membership and the timing of Obi’s move from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Labour Party.
Salami explained that by the time Obi left the PDP after its primary election, the Labour Party had already submitted its membership list to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He argued that the Constitution does not recognise independent candidates, raising questions about how Obi emerged as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.
The retired judge also used the opportunity to criticise the competence of some members of the judiciary, saying poor legal background contributes to questionable judgments.
He noted that some judges lack proper training and experience, which he said affects the quality of decisions delivered in court.
Salami added that appointments to higher courts are sometimes influenced by vacancies in certain regions rather than merit, leading to less experienced judges being elevated.
He also referenced other political cases to support his argument, saying similar issues have occurred in Nigeria’s legal system.
Despite his criticism, the former jurist expressed appreciation for the award and said he remains hopeful that the judiciary will improve over time.