Obidients fault Justice Salami’s claim, insist Obi won’t be distracted

The Obidient Movement on Wednesday took a swipe at former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, over his recent comments on the eligibility of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to contest the 2023 election, insisting the former Anambra State governor remains undeterred.

The clarification was made in a statement issued in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko.

Tanko reiterated that Obi would not be distracted by what he described as attempts to “rewrite history,” stressing that all legal issues surrounding his candidacy had long been settled.

He said, “As a movement built on truth, justice, and the rule of law, we must set the records straight and not allow this narrative to mislead the public.

“The highest court in the land has already settled all matters regarding Peter Obi’s candidacy and his membership in the Labour Party. The issue of his qualification was thoroughly litigated, and the courts did not disqualify him on the grounds of party membership.

“It is a well-established legal principle in Nigeria that the membership of a political party is strictly an internal affair of that party. The Labour Party accepted Peter Obi, granted him a waiver, and submitted his name to INEC. No external body or individual has the locus standi to dictate who a party registers as its member.”

Tanko, Obi’s former campaign spokesman, questioned the timing of renewed criticisms.

According to him, rather than revisiting settled matters, attention should be directed to addressing systemic challenges within the judiciary, including concerns about competence and standards raised earlier by Salami himself.

“It is curious that these comments are being made now, long after the elections have concluded and the judicial processes have been exhausted. We must ask: what is the motive behind trying to rewrite history and cast doubt on a candidacy that inspired millions of Nigerians?

“Justice Salami himself highlighted the ‘inadequacy and incompetence’ of some judges and the ‘tragedy’ of the current judicial system. Instead of focusing on a settled matter regarding Peter Obi, we should focus on reforming the judiciary to ensure justice is served to the Nigerian people, a core pillar of the New Nigeria we are fighting for.

“Obi never partook in the PDP primaries. It is unfortunate that the judge did not get his facts right before going to the press,” he stated.

The Obidient Movement highlighted his track record in both private enterprise and public service, noting his financial stewardship as a former governor of Anambra State and the absence of criminal allegations against him.

He said, “As governor, he left N75bn in the coffers of the Anambra State Government. He has no forgery or drug-related issues associated with him. Yet, the judge preferred to celebrate criminality over credibility. This is the level to which Nigeria has descended. Very sad indeed!

“Obi remains the symbol of hope for a New Nigeria. His 2023 candidacy was valid, legitimate, and overwhelmingly supported by millions of Nigerians tired of the status quo.

“We will not be distracted by retrospective opinions that hold no legal weight. Our eyes remain on the prize: building a nation where competence, character, and capacity lead the way.”

The reaction follows remarks by Salami, who on Tuesday argued that Obi ought not to have been allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party platform.

The retired jurist also decried what he described as declining standards within the judiciary, blaming the “inadequacy and incompetence” of some judges for flawed verdicts.

Salami made the remarks in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a courtesy visit and award presentation by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

According to him, the trend undermines the quality of justice delivery, noting that many judicial appointees lack the broad legal experience required for the bench.