Following the decision of the Federal High Court to nullify the nomination of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State as the APC’s governorship candidate in the July 16, 2022 election, some leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed concern about Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
It will be recalled that the court invalidated Oyetola and his deputy’s nomination on the grounds that Governor Mai Mala Buni, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), violated Section 183 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Some party leaders are concerned that the ruling party’s presidential ambition might be jeopardized following high court’s decision.
Dr. Kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer, told the Saturday Sun that Tinubu and other party candidates might face a similar fate.
“It is a plague that could have been avoided if only they took my position on Governor Buni’s chairmanship misadventures serious. But the judgement has vindicated me,” he said.
But the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, a lawyer, expressed confidence that the ruling of the High Court would be set aside by the Court of Appeal.
According to the APC spokesperson, “The judgment of the court is unsupportable. We are confident that the Court of Appeal will upturn the judgment.
“It isn’t supportable by fact of law. What Governor Buni Caretaker did was ratified by the convention, The party has filed an appeal against the judgment of the trial court.
“It has equally filed a motion for a stay of execution of the judgment which it described as a miscarriage of justice.”