Judgement Day: APC’s Petition Challenging Obi’s LP Membership Incompetent — Tribunal

The Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC), on Wednesday afternoon, dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s petition challenging Peter Obi’s membership of the Labour Party (LP).

The ruling delivered by a member of panel of Justices of the Court, Justice Abba Mohammed, strongly emphasised the internal nature of political party membership matters, asserting that they should not be subject to external legal challenges.

At the beginning of the case was the APC’s contention regarding Peter Obi’s claimed affiliation with the LP, a matter that had sparked significant interest within political circles.

Justice Abba Mohammed, in announcing the decision, placed significant importance on upholding the internal affairs of political parties.

He firmly advocated for the resolution of disputes related to party membership and alliances through the internal mechanisms of the parties, rather than resorting to the courts.

This ruling, which deemed the APC petition as lacking merit, established a crucial legal precedent. It reaffirmed the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal affairs and reinforced the principle that the judiciary should refrain from interfering in matters that fall within the purview of political parties’ organizational structures.