The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed President Muhammadu Buhari’s suit challenging Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act.
The Apex Court held that Buhari, having assented to the Electoral Bill on February 25, 2022, has no power to turn around to challenge the legality of the Electoral Act.
In a judgment prepared and just delivered by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, the action of Buhari in instituting the case was declared as a gross abuse of court.
The Apex Court said that the President by the suit sought to approbate and reprobate at the same time and that such must not be allowed.
Besides, the court held that Buhari had no power under any law to dictate to the National Assembly on law-making.
The unanimous verdict held that Buhari having participated in the making of the Electoral Act by his assent, lacked Constitutional Powers to come up to challenge same.
Upon assenting to the act, President Buhari had asked the National Assembly to delete the contended clause, however, the parliament declined the president’s request.
Section 84 (12) of the legislation holds that, “no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”