September 30, (THEWILL) – Some leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone of the country have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Character Commission to court, over the 2023 presidency.
Also joined as defendants in the suit are the attorney-general of the federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiffs are before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu seeking a court order to compel the respondents to zone the presidential ticket to the South-East.
THEWILL reports that the suit was filed by Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, the national coordinator, South-East for President 2023 and some other members of the PDP, APC and other citizens of Nigeria from the South-East zone.
They want the court to compel PDP and APC to choose their presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections from the South-East for equity, justice and fairness.
Among other things, the plaintiffs are asking the court to determine “whether having regard to the extant provisions of Sections 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 4(1)(b) of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Act) of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, is the defendant not mandated to ensure and compel the 4th and 5th defendants to zone the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the South-East zone in 2023 as a way of ensuring proportional sharing of the office.”
They also sought an order restraining the INEC “from accepting, recognizing or publishing the presidential nomination or candidatures of any of the PDP and APC from the forthcoming 2023 general elections except such a nomination or candidate emanates from persons from South-East zone, Federal Republic of Nigeria and of no other.”
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