Ayo Salami, a former President of the Court of Appeal, has said that Peter Obi should not have been allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, raising fresh debate over the legal and procedural issues surrounding candidate nominations in Nigeria’s last general election.
Salami made this known in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, during a courtesy visit and presentation of an award to him by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism on Tuesday.
The jurist’s position, which touches on compliance with electoral laws and party processes, adds to ongoing scrutiny of how political parties selected and presented candidates during the 2023 polls. Although he did not invalidate the election outcome, his comments suggest that certain legal thresholds, particularly those relating to party membership and nomination timelines, may not have been fully satisfied in Obi’s case.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, emerged as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate shortly after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the lead-up to the election. His candidacy galvanised a significant youth-driven political movement and reshaped Nigeria’s electoral landscape, with many first-time voters rallying behind his campaign. Despite finishing third in the official results, Obi and his party challenged the outcome in court, citing irregularities and non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
Salami’s remarks appear to centre on the interpretation of provisions in Nigeria’s Electoral Act, particularly those governing party primaries and candidate substitution. Legal analysts note that the law requires parties to follow strict procedures in nominating candidates, including conducting valid primaries and adhering to deadlines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Questions had been raised at the time about whether the Labour Party met all such requirements when it substituted its initial candidate with Obi.
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The former appellate court president’s comments could reignite legal and political discussions that had largely subsided following the conclusion of election petitions. While courts ultimately upheld President Bola Tinubu’s election, controversies over candidate eligibility, party compliance, and INEC’s oversight role remain part of broader conversations about electoral reform in Nigeria.
Supporters of Obi have consistently argued that his emergence followed due process and reflected the will of party members and the electorate. They also maintain that his candidacy strengthened democratic participation by offering voters a credible alternative outside the traditional two-party dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP.
However, critics contend that Nigeria’s electoral system must enforce stricter adherence to legal frameworks to prevent ambiguities that could undermine public confidence. Salami’s intervention underscores the importance of institutional clarity and the need for political actors to operate within clearly defined legal boundaries.
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As Nigeria reflects on the lessons of the 2023 elections, issues surrounding candidate qualification, party transparency, and regulatory enforcement are likely to remain central to future reforms. Salami’s comments, coming from a respected figure in the judiciary, may influence ongoing policy discussions and shape how electoral laws are interpreted ahead of subsequent elections.
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