A lawsuit attempting to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu for running as Muslim-Muslim candidates in the 2023 presidential election was denied on Wednesday by Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The judge dismissed the lawsuit brought by Mr. Osigwe Ahmed Momoh, an attorney with offices in Abuja, on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked locus standi.
Kashim Shetima cannot question Tinubu and his running mate about the nominations, according to Justice Mohammed, who ruled that Shetima is not an APC member and was not involved in the process that created them.
The legal practitioner had in the suit prayed the Court for an order nullifying the candidature of APC and Tinubu from participating in the presidential election on the ground that the nomination of Muslim-Muslim candidacy is unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of sections 14, 15 and 224 of the 1999 Constitution.
Specifically, the lawyer who claimed to be an apostle of the rule of law and social justice argued that the Muslim-Muslim candidacy runs counter to the spirit of national cohesion, integration and unity.
He asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of APC and its presidential candidate for the purpose of the 2023 election.
However, in his judgment, Justice Mohammed disagreed with the plaintiff on the legal right to institute the case and subsequently dismissed it in its entirety.
Justice Mohammed while upholding the preliminary objection of APC and Tinubu, however, did not award any cost against the plaintiff.
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