Some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and top opposition politicians are plotting to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from seeking a second term in office primarily on account of age.
The Nation reported this Tuesday, quoting a presidential source that declined to be named.
According to the source, the senior lawyers and opposition figures were “hell-bent” on stopping the president by approaching a court to seek a ruling barring the president from contesting.
They were said to have hinged their argument on the premise that since judges and some other public officers retire at 70, the president should not be allowed to recontest for office as he would be 76 by the time of the 2019 presidential election.
The source was quoted as saying, “The lawyers include Senior Advocates who are now raising funds from some prominent Nigerians, who have openly expressed their opposition to President Buhari’s second term ambition.
“While the position of the Constitution does not disqualify anyone on the basis of age as the senior lawyers are planning, the whole point of the case is to embarrass the president as the election draw near.
“Funds are being raised from some opposition groups’ leaders and individuals to go to court and argue that the President ought to be disqualified on age basis.”
The source added, “Already, some of those approached are read to support the cases financially and now the lead senior lawyers are mobilising several other lawyers to file series of legal suits and cases to argue on why the President should be disqualified from running.
“But there are also a number of some of those approached who are concerned that the plot by a few of the senior lawyers is not likely to be effective and might only be a ploy by the senior lawyers to raise money for themselves.”
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