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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Attempts to legally shut out the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, from participating in the forthcoming general election has hit the rocks.
The Abuja division of Court of Appeal has affirmed his candidacy in a unanimous decision as it ruled that the appellant, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), lacked the requisite locus standi to initiate the action.
Consequently, the court struck out the appeal and awarded N200,000 each against the party in favour of Obi and the LP.
Ugockwu Ogakwu, who read the unanimous judgment of the appellate court panel, led by its President, Monica Dongban-Mensem, affirmed the decision of the court.
In his appeal, marked CA/ABJ/ CV/1414/2021, the appellant had contended that 3rd respondent (Obi) was not qualified by the circumstance of his emergence as candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
He listed the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), LP and Obi, as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents.
A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had dismissed a suit seeking disqualification of Labour Party presidential candidate, Obi.
APM had approached the trial court for an injunction restraining the 1st defendant from acting on, according recognition to, giving effect to, or in any way or manner, dealing with the name of the 3rd defendant as candidate of the 2nd defendant in the forthcoming presidential election.
In his judgment, James Omotosho dismissed the suit for failure of the plaintiff to provide sufficient evidence to grant the request.
