APC Delegates Ask Court To Stop Masari’s Replacement As Tinubu’s Running Mate

Category: Nigeria News

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been asked to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) from replacing Kabiru Masari as the running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.

Shortly after Tinubu emerged as the APC flagbearer, the party submitted Masari’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the vice-presidential candidate, for the meantime.

However, two chieftains of the party and delegates in the just concluded APC national convention, Zakari Maigari and Zubainatu Mohammed approached the court to stop INEC from accepting a change of vice-presidential candidate from APC.

Also See: My School Certificates Missing – Tinubu’s Running Mate, Masari

The plaintiffs joined, APC, INEC, Tinubu, and Masari as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1059/2022 and dated July 4, 2022.

They asked the court to determine whether it was legally permissible for Masari to withdraw as the vice-presidential candidate of the APC so as to be substituted or replaced with another person by the party, with regards to the combined effect of sections 142(1) and sections 29(1), 31 and 33 of the Electoral Act.

Relying on the joint ticket provision in section 142(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the plaintiffs prayed the court to determine whether the withdrawal of Masari as the vice-presidential candidate does not entail the automatic withdrawal of Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate for purpose of the 2023 general elections. 

Also See: 2023: Tinubu Submits Masari’s Name As Running Mate