Court dismisses lawsuit seeking to stop Tinubu’s inauguration for not getting 25% of FCT votes

A lawsuit filed by five residents of the federal capital territory (FCT), seeking to stop the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as President has been struck out by a federal high court. 

 

The plaintiffs; Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, had asked the court to determine “whether or not the person who is to be elected president of the federal republic of Nigeria, and consequently administrator of the FCT through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, on the first ballot is required by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT”.

 

They also sought for a declaration extending former President Buhari’s tenure, while also asking the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing him in. 

 

Ruling on the case today, June 6, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the suit. He stated that the lawsuit can only be filed at the presidential election petition tribunal and not the federal high court.

 

The plaintiffs were also asked to pay the sum of N10 million each to the attorney-general of the federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).