Keyamo explains absence in APCs legal team to defend Tinubu

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has explained why he was excluded from the list of lawyers the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appointed for its post-election litigation.

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the APC announced the appointment of twelve Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) for its post-election litigation to defend Bola Tinubu’s election victory at the presidential election petition tribunal.

The legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi has Sam Ologunorisa, Rotimi Oguneso, Olabisi Soyebo, Gboyega Oyewole, Muritala Abdulrasheed, Aliyu Omeiza Saiki, Tajudeen Oladoja, Pius Akubo, Oluseye Opasanya, Suraju Saida, and Kazeem Adeniyi as its members.

Since the APC released the list, the exclusion of Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who also worked as a spokesperson for the party’s presidential campaign council has sparked a conversation on Twitter as many Nigerians questioned his exclusion, while supporters of opposition parties mocked him.

Reacting to this, the outspoken lawyer in a tweet said his party did not enlist him because he is a serving minister.

“For those who made inquiries, a serving Minister (by our Constitution) cannot be listed in any private legal team, though he/she can support the team in preparation. Hence, the present cabinet Ministers who are SANs can only formally join the Election Petition team after May 29th,” he tweeted.

You’ll recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Tinubu winner of the February 25 presidential election on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

But major opposition parties in the country rejected the results citing irregularities.

However, the APC has expressed confidence that its legal team of ‘experienced lawyers’ would ensure a successful outcome for the party in its post-election litigation