‘Double nomination’: Tribunal adjourns APM’s petition to June 9

The presidential election petition court has adjourned hearing in a suit filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

The APM whose presidential candidate, Chichi Ojei, scored 25,961 votes during the February 25 poll, argued that Tinubu was improperly sponsored by the APC since he nominated Kashim Shettima as his vice presidential candidate for the election, despite his double nomination.

At the last adjourned date, Wole Olanipekun, counsel representing Tinubu and Shettima, told the tribunal that the supreme court judgment which dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), affects the petition filed by the APM.

The PDP’s case against the APC presidential candidates was on the grounds of double nomination.

The opposition party had claimed that Shettima was still the APC candidate for Borno central senatorial district on July 14 when he accepted the nomination for vice-presidential candidate.

However, in a judgment delivered on Friday, the supreme court dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

A five-member panel of the apex court held that PDP not being a member of the APC, lacked the locus standi to institute the suit.

The apex court also ruled that Shettima was not guilty of double nomination.

Upon raising the issue, the APM counsel said he would obtain a certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment and make relevant consultations on the way forward.

The court granted parties’ request for an adjournment.

But at the resumption of proceedings on Friday, Yakubu Maikasuwa, APM’s lawyer, informed the court that the CTC of the supreme court judgement was not ready.

“We have not been able to obtain a copy of the judgement. So, I am not in a position to take a stand on the status of the petitioner,” he said.

“Therefore, I seek an adjournment to enable us get a copy of the supreme court judgement regarding the issue of double registration. 

“We have all agreed to come back next Friday, subject to the court’s convenience.”

Confirming the petitioner’s position, Lateef Fagbemi, APC’s lawyer, said the apex court verdict was not ready.

Tinubu’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi, also said lawyers to parties in the petition agreed to have the suit further adjourned until next Friday.

INEC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, expressed hope that APM takes a decision on its petition as soon as possible.

After listening to the lawyers’ submissions on the issue, the court adjourned the case until June 9 for further hearing.