The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja has struck out the suit filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) accusing Vice-President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of double nomination in the 2023 general elections.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, who read the lead judgement, held that an invalid nomination or double nomination did not qualify as a ground for disqualification in respect of the presidential election as provided in sections 131 and 137 of the constitution.
He also held that Mr Ibrahim Masari, who was nominated as a placeholder by the APC (for the position of the Vice President), was not a necessary party to the petition because he was neither a candidate nor did he win the election.
The Justice said, “Petitioners case rests solely on alleged invalid nomination of Tinubu’s running mate, Shetima. This can only be a pre-election matter.
“Nomination of candidate by a political party is a pre- election matter on which an election petition tribunal has no jurisdiction.
“Petitioner ought to have ventilated this claim at a federal high court. Even then it’s statute barred.
I find no merit in this petition and it’s hereby struck out.
“In summary, petition of Allied Peoples Movement,APM, has been dismissed for lacking merit.”
