The decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pick a Muslim vice presidential candidate has again become the subject of litigation.
An Abuja-based lawyer, Osigwe Momoh, has instituted a legal action against Tinubu and APC for picking a Muslim as the running mate of the party’s standard bearer.
The lawyer, in the suit filed a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of the APC presidential candidate in the forthcoming coming elections for violation of the Nigeria Constitution.
The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1188/2022 claimed that the decision to pick the Party’s presidential flagbearer and the running mate from the same religion violates the principle and the spirit of the Nigeria Constitution.
The plaintiff, (Osigwe Momoh) in the originating summons argued that Political Parties must by virtue of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), have their presidential and vice presidential candidate from different sectional, (tribal and religious groups) of the nation.
He therefore seeks a declaration that:
“by virtue of Sections 14 (1) & (3), 15 and 224(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the defendants are bound by the principles of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and having the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the same religion is unconstitutional and null and void.
“That all Political Parties must by virtue of chapter two of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), have their presidential and vice presidential candidate from different sectional (tribal and religious groups) of the nation.
“An order nullifying the candidacy of APC, Tinubu (1st And 2nd), same being unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of Sections 14 (1) & (3), 15 and 224 (a) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The human rights activist requested the Court to restrain the 3rd defendant (INEC) from publishing the candidate of the 1st defendant (APC) as a presidential candidate for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Defendants in the suit are the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and INEC as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectfully.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.
Discussion about this post