With just 16 days till President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s inauguration, five citizens of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, have petitioned the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court for an order to postpone the ceremony.
The plaintiffs sought an order restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, any other judicial officer, and/or any other authority or person from swearing in any candidate in the February 25 presidential election as President or Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, until it was judicially determined with finality or in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution that such candidate was not eligible.
They also want it declared that “the plaintiffs and other FCT residents have a legal interest and constitutional rights to be heard on the question of whether a President-elect must secure at least 25% of votes cast on the first ballot in the FCT, Abuja.”
“A declaration that no state of the country is simultaneously the FCT for any proposal, including, in particular, under section 134 (2) (b) of the Constitution.”
“A declaration that no candidate in the country’s February 25 presidential election may validly be declared elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria unless that candidate receives at least 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, FCT.”
“A declaration that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election may validly be sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, without such candidate having obtained 25% of the votes case in FCT, Abuja.
“A declaration that following the February 25 presidential election and until a successor is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and sworn in, the term of office of his Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria subsists and endures in accordance with the provisions of section 135 (1) (a) of the Constitution”.
As well as, “An order setting aside or suspending any declaration and/or issuance of a Certificate of a Return to any candidate in the February 25 presidential election in the country as having been elected, save and except it is judicially determined with finality that such candidate fulfilled the conditions stated in section 134(2) (b) of the Constitution.
The five plaintiffs behind the suit, who identified themselves as “registered voters of the FCT, Abuja are; Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffery Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwachukwu.
According to Vanguard Newspaper, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the CJN were cited in the matter as 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively.
