Justice Isa Ayo Salami Faults Judiciary, Says Peter Obi Shouldn’t Have Contested 2023 Presidential Election
Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami (rtd), has faulted the competence of Nigeria’s judiciary, insisting that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, ought not to have contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party (LP).
Speaking in Ilorin during a courtesy visit and award presentation by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Salami argued that Obi’s candidacy violated constitutional provisions since LP had already submitted its membership list to INEC before Obi defected from the PDP. He likened the situation to that of Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, whose membership in the NNPP was disputed but later upheld by the Supreme Court despite contrary rulings at the tribunal and Court of Appeal.
The retired jurist lamented what he described as “inadequacy and incompetence” among some judges, noting that promotions to the bench are often based on zonal vacancies rather than merit. He warned that such practices undermine judicial credibility and lead to questionable verdicts.
Salami further recalled how his own career progression was affected by zonal considerations, stressing that reforms are urgently needed to restore excellence in judicial appointments. He praised WSCIJ for honouring him, acknowledging the influence of Prof. Wole Soyinka’s principles and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s example in shaping his legal career.
