25% in FCT: Abuja indigens approach Court, demands a Governor and 3 Senators
The original residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are getting ready to file a lawsuit to demand that the National Assembly and the federal government of Nigeria grant them the right to choose their governor, three senators, representatives in the House of Representatives, and state house of assembly members.
This choice was made in response to a recent ruling by the Presidential Petition Tribunal Court that said Abuja does not have a unique status in relation to other states.
On his verified X account, formerly known as Twitter, Daniel Bwala, the former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Organization, declared this development and cited the tribunal’s decision placing Abuja on an equal footing with other states.
He wrote:
“Following the Presidential Election Petition Court’s judgment which states to the effect that Abuja is just like any other state; I am hearing that the natives of Abuja are approaching the court for an order mandating FGN to let them produce their Governor and 3 Senators amongst other peculiarities of a state. What is good for Guinea is also good for Uganda.”
Remember that the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal determined that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) does not have a special status relative to the other 36 states of the federation regarding the necessity for a minimum of 25% of the vote in the February 25 presidential election?
The court’s decision, which was released on Wednesday, underscores the fact that the FCT has no advantage over any other state in this regard.
The panel ruled that the Labour Party’s interpretation of section 134(2)(b) of the constitution is wholly erroneous, if not downright absurd.
In order to be recognized as the duly elected President of Nigeria, a candidate must win a majority of the votes cast overall and receive at least 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to Sections 134(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
The Whistler