PDP declares Tinubu's emergence as APC candidate is invalid

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's nomination as the All Progressives Congress's (APC) presidential candidate has been deemed "invalid, null, and void" by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This was said in a statement released on Saturday and signed by the party's national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

The PDP based their argument that Tinubu's nomination was unlawful on a September 30, 2022, ruling that invalidated the conduct of Mai Mala Buni, the governor of Yobe State.

Buni served as the APC national caretaker committee's chairman immediately before him.

The party held a convention under his direction, and Abdullahi Adamu emerged as the national chairman.

Tinubu received 1,271 votes in the presidential primary held by the Adamu-led administration in June, defeating 13 other candidates.

The PDP claimed that Buni's conduct as the caretaker committee's chairman and an active governor violated the constitution's Section 183.

A state governor "shall not, during the period while he holds office, assume any other administrative office or paid job in whatever capacity," according to Section 183 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended), which was cited by the party.

“The import of the September 30, 2022 judgment of the Federal High Court is that every decision made by Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the APC is null and void as you cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand,” the statement reads.

"Consequently, the Congresses as well as the National Convention which produced APC Excos including the Sen. Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC is void.

“In effect, the primaries and Presidential Convention conducted by the Sen. Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC, including the nomination of Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Presidential Candidate of the APC is invalid, null and void ab-initio.”

Source