Shettima: Qualification, disqualification of candidates a pre-election matter – Tribunal

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Shettima: Qualification, disqualification of candidates a pre-election matter – Tribunal

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel of the Presidential Petition Election Tribunal on Wednesday said the Allied Peoples Movement’s petition challenging the qualification of Vice President, Kashim 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.”

Earlier, Tsammani said the tribunal would deliver judgment on the APM’s petition first.

Justice Tsammani said judgements would be delivered separately on the petitions.

He said, “We will deliver judgements on the petitions separately. The petition, number four will be treated first.”

The APM was challenging the qualification of the Vice president, Kashim Shettima among others.