Former lawmaker and social critic, Shehu Sani, has raised questions about his own party’s legal challenge against the outcome of the 2023 general elections. Sani, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed his viewpoint on his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday.
In his statement, Sani highlighted the apparent contradiction within the PDP’s actions. He mentioned:
“If the PDP has approved and endorsed its members joining the Government, then it has no business being in Court.”
Sani’s perspective follows the recent appointment of former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, as a minister by President Bola Tinubu. Wike, a member of the PDP, openly revealed that he had been given the green light by the party to accept the ministerial position under Tinubu’s administration. It’s noteworthy that Wike has not officially resigned from the PDP.
This development raises questions about the PDP’s stance as one of the parties that are contesting the outcome of the 2023 elections and has approached the tribunal to challenge Tinubu’s victory. The PDP, along with its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has lodged a petition requesting the nullification of Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
The petition, marked CA/PEPC/05/2023, and filed at the tribunal on Monday, March 20, 2023, alleges significant non-compliance with the constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s guidelines during the election. The petitioners specifically question INEC’s conduct and raise concerns about Chairman Professor Yakubu’s haste in announcing the election results amid protests.
In the petition, Atiku and the PDP name INEC, Tinubu, and the APC as the first to third respondents. As the legal battle unfolds, Shehu Sani’s commentary spotlights the complexities and potential contradictions within the PDP’s approach to challenging the election outcome while its members engage with the current administration.
