Tribunal Throws Out APC’s Petition On Obi’s Eligibility To Contest 2023 Election; Gives Reason

By Babatunde Oduyoye

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, on Wednesday, thrown out  the petition of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the eligibility of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party(LP), Peter Obi, to contest the 2023 general election.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima had contended that Obi was ineligible to contest the election based on the fact that he only joined the LP a few days before the election, which is contrary to the electoral that an intending member of a party must registered at least 30 days before the election.

However, the court in its ruling, said it was not the prerogative of Tinubu and Shettima to challenge Obi’s candidacy as party membership is an internal affair

 “The issue of membership of a political party is an internal party affair,” a member of the five-member panel, Justice Abba Mohammed, who reads the lead judgment, said.