A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami, on Tuesday stirred fresh debate over Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence, declaring that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, was not qualified to contest the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party.
Speaking in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a courtesy visit by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), where he was honoured with an award, the retired jurist attributed several controversial court rulings in Nigeria to what he described as inadequacies within the judiciary.
The award was presented by WSCIJ Founder, Dapo Olorunyomi, alongside Executive Director, Motunrayo Alaka, at Salami’s residence.
Salami argued that Obi’s candidacy contradicted constitutional provisions, noting that the Labour Party had already submitted its membership list to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before Obi joined the party.
“For instance, Peter Obi ought not be allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election. In the sense that by the time he lost the PDP primary, LP had submitted its list of members… And the Constitution says there cannot be an independent candidacy,” he said.
He further expressed concern over what he described as declining standards within the judiciary, linking it to questionable judgments across various courts.
“Some of them have a problem with learning… They don’t have a good background to be judges… Personally, they are inadequate. This might be responsible for their wrong judgments,” Salami stated.
The retired justice also criticised the process of judicial appointments, suggesting that vacancies and zoning considerations sometimes override merit and experience.
Citing another example, he referenced the case of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, questioning the legality of his party membership documentation and the Supreme Court’s handling of the matter.
Salami lamented what he described as a systemic flaw where less experienced judges are elevated over more qualified seniors due to structural limitations.
Despite his criticisms, he expressed appreciation to the WSCIJ for the honour, describing it as a meaningful recognition of his contributions.
“I am very happy to receive the award… There is hardly any judge who will not appreciate this type of honour,” he said.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Salami revealed that his legal career was inspired by the late nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo, particularly during his historic treason trial, where Awolowo defended himself in court.
He also acknowledged the influence of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, noting that Soyinka’s principles and boldness shaped his views on national issues.
News Source: Punch
