CSO want court to stop Buhari's swearing-in, cancel Presidential election

12:28 - 27 May 2015

A CSO has asked an Abuja court to stop Buhari's inauguration because he is not legally fit to take over as the President of Nigeria after failing to meet the qualification enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the Incorporated Trustees of Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, has ‎filed a suit seeking to stop the inauguration of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

In an originating summons filed by its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, the group asked a Federal Court in Abuja to stop the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from administering the oath on the Buhari come May 29.

Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the CJN were cited as respondents in the suit as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents.

The group said Buhari is not legally fit to take over as the President of Nigeria because he did not meet the qualification enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

READ: Principal gets death threats over release of Buhari's WASC results

Ekpo argued Buhari should not have contested the April 11, 2015, presidential election in the first place.

“The 1st Respondent has not met the qualifications enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, Cap E6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 (as amended) to have contested the position of President of Nigeria at the 2015 general elections," the plaintiff argued.

The group applied for:

"A declaration that the 3rd Defendant is estopped from swearing in the 1st Defendant as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the issue of perjury involving the 1st Defendant has not been resolved.

READ: Buhari scored 2 F9 grades in 1961 WASCE

“An order restraining the 3rd Defendant or any person appointed for such purpose from swearing in the 1st Defendant as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015 or any future dates whatsoever for giving False Information to the 2nd Respondent on oath.

“An order annulling the Certificate of Return given to the 1st Defendant by the 2nd Defendant.”

Buhari's qualification has been an issue since his declaration of intent to contest the 2015 Presidential elections.

In the ensuing drama, the Principal of the Government College, Katsina, Mallam Isyaku Bello released Buhari (WASC) results.