Is the most knowledgeable person in the nation the most deserving of the Caliphate?

For the validity of the Grand Imamate, it is not a condition that its holder be the most knowledgeable of people. Rather, the majority of scholars stipulated that he must reach the rank of ijtihad (independent reasoning) in knowing the rulings. As for the Hanafis, they held that knowledge is a condition of priority, and they consider it valid for an ordinary person to assume the role. Among the recognized conditions for the Imamate are: justice and knowledge leading to ijtihad.