APM drops appeal against Tinubu at Supreme Court
In an attempt to overturn President Bola Tinubu’s election victory, the Allied Peoples Movement, or APM, withdrew their case to the Supreme Court.
Not long after it was scheduled for hearing, the party, represented by Mr. Chukwuma Machukwu Ume, SAN, withdrew the case.
Under the direction of Justice Inyang Okoro, a seven-person panel of the highest court had chastised the party for submitting an appeal that it claimed lacked merit.
The panel questioned the APM’s potential advantage from the appeal, citing it as one of the factors contributing to the high volume of cases before the Supreme Court.
It said that since the party merely desired the Supreme Court to “state the law,” the appeal would be a complete waste of time and an academic exercise.
“If we are idle, then maybe we will state the law. If there is nothing for you to gain from an appeal, you don’t just come to court for interpretation.
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“If for instance that you win a case, there must be something to be gained from the victory. We have read your appeal, there is absolutely nothing in it. You are not asking for your candidate to be declared winner or anything of such, all you want is for the President to be removed.
“If we remove the President, then what next? There are two other appeals here that are asking for something substantial,” Justice Okoro fumed.
Earlier, a member of the panel, Justice Emmanuel Agim, noted that issues the APM raised in its appeal, was previously decided by the Supreme Court.
“We are not bound to hear every appeal. What you are asking us is to overrule ourselves. Did you not read our decision on the issue of double nomination,” Justice Agim queried APM’s lawyer.
Mr. Machukwu Ume, SAN, retracted the appeal after learning the panel’s view on the subject, and it was thus dismissed.
The party upheld its stance in its 10-ground of appeal, stating that Tinubu was unable to take part in the February 25 presidential election.
It contended that, with regard to the general elections of 2023, Kashim Shettima, Tinubu’s vice president and running mate, was twice nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for separate posts.