A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, has argued that Peter Obi should not have been allowed to contest in the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party (LP).
Salami made the remarks while addressing journalists at his residence in Ilorin, Kwara State, where he raised concerns over the legality of Obi’s candidacy following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the retired jurist, by the time Obi exited the PDP primary, the Labour Party had already submitted its membership list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He argued that this raised questions about Obi’s eligibility, given constitutional provisions that do not recognise independent candidates.
Salami questioned how Obi emerged as a candidate without being formally captured in the party’s submitted register, stressing that party membership records form the legal basis for candidature.
He maintained that the process through which Obi secured the LP ticket did not align with established electoral guidelines.
Drawing a parallel, the former appeal court president referenced a similar situation involving the Kano State governor, who defected political parties despite alleged discrepancies in membership documentation.
He noted that although some courts acknowledged such irregularities, issues of legal competence have continued to affect outcomes.
Beyond Obi’s case, Salami expressed broader concerns about the quality of judicial decisions in Nigeria.
He criticised what he described as lapses in competence among some members of the bench, suggesting that inadequate training and weak academic foundations may contribute to flawed judgments.
He clarified that such shortcomings are not necessarily linked to corruption or external influence, but rather to intellectual and professional limitations.
According to him, some court rulings—including those from higher courts—often raise serious questions about the depth of legal reasoning applied.
Salami’s comments added to ongoing debates surrounding the 2023 elections and the interpretation of electoral laws, particularly regarding party membership, candidate eligibility, and judicial consistency in election-related cases.
