Tribunal Rules on Kashim Shettima’s Nomination as Bola Tinubu’s Vice

Kashim Shettima is a political figure who recently gained significant attention as the vice-presidential candidate alongside President Bola Tinubu. The nomination had been under scrutiny due to a legal challenge, but the court has now cleared the way for Shettima’s political journey.

The Verdict on Shettima’s Nomination

Justice Haruna Tsammani of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has dismissed a petition against the nomination of Kashim Shettima as the vice-presidential candidate for President Bola Tinubu. The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) had filed a suit seeking the disqualification of both Tinubu and Shettima from the 2023 presidential election. The APM’s argument was based on the grounds that Shettima had already been nominated as a candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Borno Central Senatorial District.

Why the Court Dismissed the APM Suit

Justice Tsammani, after consulting with other members of the panel of justices, ruled that the APM lacked the locus standi to challenge Shettima’s nomination. According to the judge, only members of the APC who had also contested for the same position that Shettima was holding could legally challenge his nomination. The court further stated that the APM’s petition was considered an abuse of the court process, as it had been heard before in another court and was not filed within the designated period for election matters.

Implications for the APC and the 2023 Election

The dismissal of the APM’s petition clears the path for Kashim Shettima and President Bola Tinubu to participate in the 2023 presidential election. This could have significant implications for the APC and the political landscape of Nigeria as a whole.