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A former president of the Court of Appeal, Isa Salami, has asserted that Peter Obi ought not to have been allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party, citing constitutional and procedural concerns.
Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a courtesy visit by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, the retired jurist expressed reservations over what he described as inconsistencies in Nigeria’s electoral and judicial processes.
“For instance, Peter Obi ought not be allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election. In the sense that by the time he lost the PDP primary, LP had submitted its list of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission. And the Constitution says there cannot be an independent candidacy,” he said.
He further questioned the legitimacy of Obi’s candidacy under the party, adding: “How did he become a candidate of LP if he does not belong to LP?” He drew parallels with other political cases, pointing to what he described as systemic lapses in party documentation and judicial interpretation.
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Beyond the political dimension, Salami took a broader swipe at the judiciary, attributing what he termed “wrong judgments” to inadequacies among some judges. According to him, gaps in experience and training have, in some instances, undermined the quality of verdicts delivered at various levels of the courts.
“There are a few bad eggs amongst some judges… Some of them have a problem with learning. They don’t have a good background to be judges,” he remarked, while stressing that the issue is more of competence than outright dishonesty.
He concluded, however, on a reflective note, expressing optimism that the system would, in time, correct itself. The retired jurist also acknowledged the honour bestowed on him, noting that recognition of integrity and service remains vital in strengthening public institutions.
