Buhari home free as eligibility suits are dropped

Plaintiffs seeking the disqualification of Muhammadu Buhari’s from contesting the March 28 presidential election on the grounds of non-possession of secondary school certificate, on Wednesday withdrew the suits.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja therefore struck out the two suits. This gives the president-elect a free passage to the presidency, as it was the only remaining stumbling block he had to overcome in his journey to occupy Aso Rock Villa.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who is representing one of the plaintiffs, told the judge on Wednesday that his client decided to withdraw his suit to afford the incoming government time to focus on the “enormous task” of governance.

When the second case which was filed by Max Ozoaka was called, his lawyer, Dr. Chike Amobi, also adduced similar grounds for withdrawing the suit.

With the Wednesday’s development, the remaining pending eligibility suit against Buhari is the one filed by Ayakeme Whiskey (FHC/ABJ/CS/68/15).

As of the time of filing this story, no date has been fixed for the hearing in the pending suit.

The plaintiffs had filed the suits challenging Buhari’s eligibility, asking the court to declare him ineligible to contest in the election on the basis of his alleged failure to submit his certificate of academic qualifications along with his Form CF001 to INEC.

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