The Nigeria’s Apex Court has struck out the appeal by the Allied Peoples Movement seeking to nullify the election of President Tinubu.
The party had claimed that the placeholder nominated by the president, Ibrahim Masari, was not replaced within the 14 days stipulated by Section 33 of the Electoral Act.
Apex Court Says Appeal Not Premised on Double Nomination
At the hearing on Monday at the Supreme Court in Abuja, the lead counsel for the party, Chukwuma -Machukwu Ume told the court that their appeal was not premised on double nomination.
He insisted that the Vice President, Kashim Shettima was illegally nominated.
The court asked if the APM had anything to gain from the matter.
Justice Okoro pointedly asked Umeh what he thought his client would benefit from the outcome of the case if not only to further overburden the court.
Umeh had made efforts to distinguish his client’s case from that if the PDP v. INEC and others, but later had a change of mind when the Justice Okoro insisted that the appeal lacked any utilitarian value
“What will you gain if you win this appeal? There are other appeals that are asking for something substantial. There is nothing to gain but to give us work to do. You are not asking us to put your candidate there as president,” the panel led by John Okoro said.
The APM lawyer, however, applied to withdraw his appeal.
APC, INEC, Ibrahim Massari, and Tinubu’s counsels did not object.
“Having been withdrawn, the appeal is hereby struck out,” Okoro said.