A former President of the Court of Appeal, Isa Ayo Salami, has questioned the legality of Peter Obi’s participation in the 2023 presidential election, attributing it to what he described as judicial incompetence.
Salami made the remarks in Ilorin during a courtesy visit and award event organised by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, led by its founder, Dapo Olorunyomi.
According to the retired jurist, lapses in the judiciary have resulted in questionable rulings, stressing that some judges lack the competence required for their roles.
“The inadequacy and incompetence of some judges are responsible for wrong verdicts,” he said.
Salami argued that Obi should not have been eligible to contest under the Labour Party, claiming the party had already submitted its membership list to the Independent National Electoral Commission before Obi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party.
“The Constitution does not recognise independent candidacy. How did he become a candidate if he was not a registered member?” he queried.
He raised similar concerns about Abba Yusuf, stating that the Kano State governor allegedly contested under the New Nigeria Peoples Party despite questions over his membership status.
Beyond individual cases, Salami criticised Nigeria’s judicial appointment process, alleging that some judges rise through the ranks not purely on merit but due to regional considerations and available vacancies.
“At times, even Supreme Court rulings can be surprising,” he noted, adding that some appointees lack the necessary legal background and experience.
He concluded that the system requires urgent reforms to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals occupy positions on the bench.
