Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, has advanced the reason why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should disqualify Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
Eighteen-Eleven Media recalls that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had made a similar call, citing alleged illegal substitution of running mate.
The PDP is asking a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disqualify Obi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting in the 2023 presidential election for using place-holders and later announcing fresh running mates.
In the originating summons, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1016/2022, the PDP is seeking an order barring INEC from replacing the running mates of Tinubu and Obi.
Those listed as first to seventh respondents in the case are INEC, APC, Tinubu, Masari, Labour Party, Obi and Okupe.
Tinubu and Obi had used Masari and Okupe respectively to beat the deadline set by INEC on submission of running mates after the primaries.
The main opposition party also wants the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to prevent Tinubu and Peter Obi, from replacing their place-holders, Gov Kabiru Masari and Doyin Okupe, respectively.
In a similar vein, Ahmad maintains that Obi is not supposed to run for the presidency under the Labour Party, which he joined in May 2022.
Recall that prior to the presidential primaries of the PDP, Peter dumped the main opposition party and joined the LP where he contested the primary election and won.
Ahmad claimed that Obi’s name is not in the LP’s membership list submitted to INEC by the party.
“In line with EA2022, the INEC should disqualify the LP presidential candidate from contesting the 2023 election.
“The candidate isn’t on the party’s membership list submitted to the electoral body. The list was submitted on April 25, while the candidate joined the party on May 26” he tweeted.