25% FCT votes: Court dismisses case against Tinubu
A Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a lawsuit filed by five residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seeking to prevent the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president.
The applicants, identified as Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffery Ucheh, Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwachukwu, argued that Tinubu’s inauguration should be halted.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023, urged the court to restrain the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as well as any other judicial officer, authority, or person from swearing in any candidate from the February 25 presidential election as President or Vice-President of Nigeria.
The applicants contended that no candidate could be declared elected President of Nigeria without obtaining at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT.
The lawsuit further sought a declaration that no candidate in the presidential election could be sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief without obtaining 25% of the votes in the FCT.
It also argued that until a successor was determined and sworn in, the term of President Muhammadu Buhari should continue according to the provisions of the Constitution.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria were named as respondents in the case.
The suit demanded an order setting aside or suspending any declaration or issuance of a Certificate of Return to a candidate in the presidential election unless it was judicially determined that the candidate fulfilled the conditions specified in the Constitution.
However, the Federal High Court ultimately dismissed the case against Tinubu’s inauguration, bringing clarity to the disputed matter concerning the FCT vote.
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