Former lawmaker and prominent social critic, Shehu Sani, has raised a pointed question regarding his party’s stance on legal challenges to the 2023 general election results. Sani, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), conveyed his thoughts through a post on his social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), emphasizing that if the PDP had endorsed its members to join the current administration, then it should not pursue legal action.
Sani’s statement took aim at the party’s ongoing legal challenge against the election outcomes. His sentiments gained traction after Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a PDP member, was appointed as a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Wike’s appointment raised questions about his continued affiliation with the PDP, as he did not formally resign from the party.
In his post, Sani noted:
“If the PDP has approved and endorsed its members joining the Government, then it has no business being in Court.”
Wike himself had claimed that he received approval from the PDP leadership before accepting the ministerial position in Tinubu’s administration. His inauguration as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stirred discussion about the compatibility of party membership with government appointments.
The PDP, one of the parties dissatisfied with the election results, has filed a petition at the tribunal seeking to nullify Tinubu’s victory. The party, along with its candidate Atiku Abubakar, alleged substantial non-compliance with constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s guidelines during the election.
The petition, filed with the tribunal, points out instances of alleged irregularities, including INEC’s announcement of the results amidst protests. The petitioners also question the speed of INEC’s announcement and the accuracy of the declared results.
As the legal battle unfolds, Sani’s perspective underscores the broader debate surrounding political affiliations in government appointments and their implications for legal challenges.