As some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have dragged the president-elect Bola Tinubu before the federal high court sitting in Abuja, asking the court to stop his inauguration, there doesn’t appear to be any end in sight to the ongoing controversies surrounding the May 29 swearing-in.
In the lawsuit with the file number FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023, the plaintiffs requested a court order prohibiting “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 such time as judicial determination is made with finality or in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution that such candida
Additionally, they request a ruling 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 the votes cast, on the first ballot, in the FCT, Abuja.”
“A declaration that no state in the nation may simultaneously serve as the FCT for any proposal, including, in particular, those made in accordance with section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution.
“A declaration that no candidate for president in the country’s election on February 25 may be legitimately declared elected without receiving at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.
“A declaration that states no candidate in the February 25 presidential election may legitimately take the oath of office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without first receiving 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.
“A declaration that 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 following the February 25 presidential election and until a successor is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and sworn in.”
“An order setting aside or suspending any declaration and/or issuance of a Certificate of a Return to any candidate in the country’s February 25 presidential election 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,” is another option.
The matter named the CJN and the Attorney-General of the Federation as the first and second defendants, respectively.
