By A’isha Biola Raji
The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the appeal brought by a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Umar Ardo challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal which stopped him from joining in the appeal challenging President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to re-contest in 2015.
The dismissal was a follow up to an oral application moved by counsel to Ardo, Dr. A Amuda Kannike SAN seeking to withdraw the appeal.
However, none of the parties objected to the application.
In dismissing the appeal, the panel of seven justices led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Mahmud said the appellant has no business joining in the appeal challenging Jonathan’s eligibility, as no law stopped him from participating in the just concluded convention of the party.
It would however be recalled that, a Cyriacus Njoku had approached an Abuja High Court to stop Jonathan from re-contesting in 2015.
The then trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi had dismissed the suit on ground that the court lacked jurisdiction concerning the case.
Njoku had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the lower court.
Umar Ardo had sought to join at the appeal court but was denied on ground that he did not show a logical interest that could have warranted his joining the case.
The appeal court also noted then that he was not a party at the lower court; hence he could not join in the appeal.
Ardo, who was not satisfied had also approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision.
When the matter came up yesterday, the CJN noted that the substantive appeal was still pending before the Court of Appeal and that what is before the apex court is an interlocutory appeal.
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