Qualification, disqualification of candidates a pre-election matter, says the Tribunal
The presidential election petition tribunal, PEPT, has struck out a suit filed by Allied Peoples Movement.
Recall that APM is at the tribunal challenging the qualification of Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
Delivering the judgment of the tribunal on Wednesday, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the Presidential Petition Election Tribunal said the petition said the qualification or otherwise of Shettima was a pre-election matter.
Reading his verdict, Tsammani said the matter ought to have been challenged before the conduct of the presidential election.
He said, “The issue of qualification or disqualification is a constitutional one.
The issue of disqualification or qualification is a pre-election matter.
“It must be determined before the conduct of the election. This court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter and even if it does it is status-barred because it is a pre-election matter.”
