The retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, has asserted that the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, should not have been cleared to contest the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party.
Justice Salami made these remarks in Ilorin during a courtesy visit to his residence by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), where he was presented with a prestigious award.
Reflecting on the legal intricacies of the 2023 polls, the retired jurist argued that the candidacy of the Labour Party standard-bearer was fundamentally flawed based on the timing of his defection.
He explained that by the time Peter Obi lost the primary of the People’s Democratic Party and moved to the Labour Party, the latter had already submitted its official membership register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Salami maintained that since the Nigerian Constitution does not recognize independent candidacy, a candidate must be a valid member of the party on whose platform they run.
He questioned how Obi could legally become the Labour Party candidate if his name was not originally on the party’s membership register at the time of submission.
The former appellate court president drew a parallel between Obi’s situation and that of the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, noting that the Supreme Court eventually countenanced similar membership discrepancies despite initial objections from the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
He attributed these inconsistent legal outcomes to a broader crisis of competence within the Nigerian judiciary.
Justice Salami criticized the current system of judicial elevation, suggesting that appointments to the Supreme Court are often dictated by zonal vacancies rather than merit or seniority.
He noted that this practice often sees less experienced jurists superseding their seniors, leading to judgments that he described as astounding to seasoned legal minds.
Beyond the critique of the bench, Justice Salami shared personal reflections on his career and the influences that shaped his judicial philosophy.
He revealed that his decision to study law was inspired by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the historic treasonable felony trial. Watching Awolowo defend himself after his British counsel was barred from entering Nigeria convinced a young Salami that legal knowledge was a vital tool for self-defense and political participation.
He also expressed profound gratitude to the WSCIJ for the honor, noting that the principles of audacity and integrity championed by Professor Wole Soyinka have long influenced his own disposition toward national affairs.
The award presentation, led by WSCIJ founder Dapo Olorunyomi and Executive Director Motunrayo Alaka, was originally scheduled for December 2025 but was held at the jurist’s home due to his inability to attend the initial ceremony.
Justice Salami concluded by expressing hope that the Nigerian judiciary would eventually correct its systemic flaws and move toward a future where competence and experience are the primary benchmarks for the nation’s highest courts.