Nigeria on Edge as Supreme Court Set to Rule on Tinubu-Shettima’s Disqualification Case

Patrick OdeyMay 23, 2023

1 minute read

Nigeria’s political future is at stake as the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its judgment on a suit filed by the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kassim Shettima.

The PDP is seeking to disqualify Shettima from becoming the vice president on the grounds that he was nominated by two different parties for the same election, which violates the Electoral Act.

The PDP also wants the court to overturn the decision of the lower courts, which dismissed its case for lack of locus standi.

The judgment, which is expected on May 26, just three days before the presidential inauguration, could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy and stability. If the Supreme Court upholds the PDP’s claim, it could nullify the election of Tinubu and Shettima, who won with a landslide victory in the February polls.

The legal battle has been tense and heated, with both sides presenting their arguments before a five-member panel of justices led by Inyang Okoro. The PDP’s lawyer, Joe Agim, cited a previous case involving Uche Nwosu, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court for double nomination. He argued that Shettima should face the same fate and that his respondents should not be heard at all.

However, the lawyer representing the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Omosanya Popoola, countered that the PDP had no basis to challenge Shettima’s candidacy, as it had already been ruled out by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. He also said that the suit was time-barred, as it was filed beyond the 180-day limit for pre-election matters.

The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict until Friday, May 26. Nigerians are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this historic case, which could either confirm or change their choice of leaders for the next four years.