25% FCT: Court Fixes May 24 For Ruling On FCT Suit Against Tinubu

The Federal High Court has set May 24 for its decision in the lawsuit brought by Federal Capital Territory residents against President-elect Bola Tinubu.

According to The PUNCH, five citizens of the FCT filed a lawsuit asking the court to halt the president-elect’s scheduled inauguration on May 29.

Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Uche, Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, the plaintiffs, filed the lawsuit on their own behalf as well as the behalf of other FCT residents and registered voters.

Plaintiffs claim that Tinubu failed to receive at least 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the lawsuit filed on April 28 and designated FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 before the Federal High Court.

They are seeking an order of court restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria and any judicial officer and/or any authority or persons from swearing in any candidate in the February 25 presidential election as president or vice president.

They want the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing in any candidate in the presidential election as president or vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria until the issue is determined in court.

Earlier on the matter, counsel for the plaintiffs, Chuks Nwachukwu Esq, informed the court that they filed the ex parte application and originated motions seeking a referral of the constitutional matters to the Court of Appeal for interpretation.

However, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the residents and voters in the FCT should address the court on their locus standi and whether there is a similar matter before the presidential elections court

Upon resuming the hearing on Thursday, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter after counsel for the plaintiffs, Nwachukwu addressed the court on the issue of locus standi, jurisdiction and whether the matter is not already before the presidential election petition court.

In his argument, Nwachukwu told the court that it had jurisdiction to hear the matter since the plaintiffs are not parties to the petition currently before the presidential election petition court.

However, the matter has yet to be transmitted to the court of appeal because the learned Judge has not released the record of Monday, Nwachukwu said.

He said the Judge has fixed May 24 to rule on the matter.