The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu, stating that he was not qualified to be the President-Elect as he failed to secure 25% of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
The court declared that it did not have the jurisdiction to rule on the lawsuit, which was brought forward by five residents of Abuja seeking to halt Tinubu’s inauguration.
Presiding Judge Inyang Ekwo rejected the plaintiffs’ argument that a president-elect must obtain a minimum of 25% of the votes from the federal capital territory. He subsequently dismissed the case, ruling that the plaintiffs lacked the necessary standing to file the lawsuit. According to Ekwo, the presidential election petition tribunal, not the high court, should have heard their case.
Furthermore, Ekwo ordered the lawyer representing the residents to pay a penalty of N10 million each to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
The lawsuit was filed by Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwanchukwu on behalf of themselves, as well as other residents and registered voters of the FCT.
Among their requests to the court, they sought a decision on whether a presidential candidate is required to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, as stipulated by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution. They also questioned whether the substitution of any state within Nigeria for the FCT would result in discrimination against FCT residents and registered voters.
Additionally, the plaintiffs demanded an extension of President Muhammadu Buhari’s term until the appointment of his successor in accordance with the constitution.
