BREAKING: Supreme Court to deliver judgment May 26 in PDP suit against Kashim Shettima’s alleged double nomination
The Supreme Court today fixed May 26 for the judgement on the alleged double nomination of vice president-elect Kashim Shettima filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The judgement, slated three days before the presidential inauguration, would determine whether Shettima would be sworn in as the vice president or if his candidacy would be truncated.
If affirmed, Shettima’s disqualification could truncate the swearing in of Bola Tinubu as president since they ran a joint ticket.
PDP’s lawyer, Joe Agim SAN told the Court that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier admitted Shettima’s double nomination at the appellate court, but the APC denied the allegation.
Agim, citing a case involving Uche Nwosu against ADP as precedent, asserted that his respondents did not deserve to speak, let alone make any argument, over the alleged double nomination.
“There’s a punishment for double nomination. They ought not to be heard,” Agim told the highest court on Monday. “It should never happen in this country.”
APC’s lawyer, Omosanya Popoola, however countered his colleague, saying the motion did not hold water as the Federal High Court has ruled that PDP had no locus standi to bring up the matter, a judgement that was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
He further said the matter, being a pre-election matter, had exceeded the time in which it can be challenged, saying it was too late for the PDP to raise the matter at the Supreme Court after 180 days.
“This matter has long expired, well over 200 days,” asserted Mr Popoola, hinting it was a pre-election matter.
But Agim argued that the number of days was not an issue based on Uche Nwosu’s precedent, in which he quoted the Supreme Court as previously saying “time does not run” when treating matters of double nomination.
Having lost at the trial and appellate courts, PDP was asking the Supreme Court to invoke its powers and assume jurisdiction over the matter to set aside the previous judgements made by the lower courts and reexamine their arguments.
Shettima’s vice-presidential and Borno Central senatorial nominations, which the PDP said contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act. The PDP said it was illegal to compete for two positions at the same time, alleging Shettima’s senatorial nomination was not withdrawn from the electoral commission.
The five-member justices, led by Justice John Inyang Okoro, said the Court will give its judgement on Friday, May 26.
