Court deems PDP’s suit lacking merit, imposes fine for meddling

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has granted legal validation for the inauguration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima. On Friday, the Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Tinubu and Shettima from the 2023 presidential election.

Ruling that the PDP’s suit lacked merit, the Apex Court delivered its verdict, thereby allowing the President-elect and Vice President-elect to proceed with their planned inauguration.

Justice Adamu Jauro, who delivered the lead judgment, imposed a fine of N2 million on the PDP for interfering in the internal affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) concerning its primary elections and candidate nominations.

In his ruling, Justice Jauro concurred with the arguments put forth by Tinubu’s lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, that the PDP had unlawfully meddled in the affairs of the APC. He stated that the PDP had acted as a busybody and meddlesome interloper without jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court emphasized that aside from lacking the authority to initiate the suit, the PDP failed to provide any substantial evidence to support its claim of double nomination against Vice President-elect Shettima.

The Court deemed the PDP’s assertion of double nomination as deeply unfortunate and a deliberate attempt to mislead both the Court and the country. The claim was viewed as a clear case of deliberate mischief aimed at distorting facts.

The Supreme Court also agreed with Fagbemi’s argument that, regardless of the PDP’s dissatisfaction with the APC’s primary elections and candidate nominations, the PDP must remain an onlooker in such matters.

“It is abundantly clear that the Appellant (PDP) in the totality of its position in the instant case is peeping and poking its nose into the affairs of another party as a busybody and meddlesome interloper,” Justice Jauro stated.

The Court further criticized the PDP for attempting to manipulate public opinion by utilizing social media platforms to set a trap and blackmail the Supreme Court. The Court emphasized that such actions were unfortunate, unwarranted, and uncalled for.

With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the PDP’s suit, the way is now clear for the successful inauguration of President-elect Tinubu and Vice President-elect Shettima. This ruling brings an end to the legal dispute and allows the elected leaders to proceed with their duties in the best interests of the nation.