In a significant ruling, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani at the Presidential Petition Election Tribunal has made a crucial determination. The tribunal declared that the petition lodged by the Allied Peoples Movement challenging the qualification of Vice President Kashim Shettima is a pre-election issue.
Justice Tsammani, while delivering the verdict, emphasized that matters concerning the qualification or disqualification of candidates are inherently constitutional in nature and must be addressed as pre-election concerns.
He stated, “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 statutorily barred because it falls under the category of pre-election matters.”
This ruling provides a clear directive regarding the timing and jurisdictional aspects of challenges related to candidate qualifications, reinforcing the importance of addressing such issues before the actual election takes place.