The Peoples Democratic Party stated on Saturday that the recent court ruling that invalidated Governor Adegboyega Oyetola‘s candidacy in the previous Osun State governorship election meant that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s nomination as the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate was also invalid.
At a press briefing, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, recalled that on September 30, 2022, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja invalidated the candidacy of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State in the July 16 governorship election on the grounds that his nomination was invalid, having been conducted and submitted by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State in violation of Section 183 of the constitution.Infomation Guide Nigeria
Other Top Stories:
- I don’t steal, NWC agreed on allowance – Ayu
- INEC struggling to implement Electoral Act, alleges IPAC
- If you don’t like Tinubu as president Jump into Lagos lagoon: Femi Fani-Kayode
- Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti believe gays should be killed – Femi Fani-Kayode
He said, “For emphasis, Section 183 of the constitution provides that a governor “shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.
He added, “Consequently, the congresses as well as the national convention which produced APC excos including the Senator Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC are void. In effect, the primaries and presidential convention conducted by the Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC, including the nomination of Senator Bola Tinubu as presidential candidate of the APC is invalid, null and void ab initio.”Jamb Result
Check Jamb Result
Check and Confirm: How much is Dollar to Naira
When asked if the PDP would go to court on the matter, he said, “The PDP will not announce whether or not we are going to court. When we want to go to court, you will know.”
As a response, the APC and the legal department of the party’s presidential campaign team disputed Ologunagba’s assertion and suggested he seek clarification.
Felix Morka, national secretary of publicity for the APC, told one of our journalists that the Federal High Court’s decision was erroneous.
Morka said, “I am confident that the decision will not pass appellate court’s scrutiny. For one, the decision flies in the face of a valid and subsisting majority Supreme Court decision in Akeredolu’s case which settled the question as to the validity of Mai Mala Buni Caretaker Committee.
“In any event, that committee was duly constituted by the NEC of the APC and everything done by the caretaker committee was duly ratified by the national convention, the highest decision-making organ of the party. Clearly, we stand on strong legal ground and are unperturbed by that decision.”
Also, the Head of Legal Directorate of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, stated that there was no need for fear, as the court verdict would not render Tinubu’s candidacy illegal.
He remarked that Adamu led the NEC during the primary election that produced Tinubu.
“It is not an issue,” he said. “What does the APC Constitution say? It mentioned NEC, which you and I know is not an individual. Was the NEC not properly constituted? Has the Supreme Court also not decided the same case in Akeredolu vs Jegede that it doesn’t matter the nomination of a candidate as far as the law is concerned, that it is the party they recognise? Though I must say I have not read this particular judgment, so I will not condemn the judgement. But no two cases are the same.
He said even if Buni presided over the convention that produced Adamu, it would not take away the legitimacy of Adamu’s leadership.
“Oyetola’s case has absolutely nothing to do with our national convention. They are different,” he added.
