An Abuja based lawyer, Osigwe Momoh has filed a case before the Federal High Court against the All Progressive Congress (APC) for picking the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the party from the same religion for the 2023 election.
In the suit, the lawyer asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Independent Electoral Commission( INEC) from publishing the name of the Presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu over alleged violation of the Nigerian constitution.
The APC, Tinubu and INEC were named as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectfully.
Momoh, in the originating summons argued that political parties must, by virtue of Chapter Two of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, have their Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates from different tribal and religious groups of the nation.
He, therefore, sought a declaration that, “by virtue of Sections 14 (1) and (3), 15 and 224(a) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the defendants are bound by the principles of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, as amended and having the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the same religion is unconstitutional and null and void.
“That all political parties must, by virtue of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, have their Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates from different sectional tribal and religious groups of the nation.
“An order nullifying the candidacy of the APC, Tinubu, same being unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of Sections 14 (1) & (3), 15 and 224 (a) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The rights activist requested the court to restrain the INEC from publishing the candidate of APC as a presidential candidate for the forthcoming 2023 general election.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.
( Editor, Omor Bazuaye)
