A fresh application has been submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to halt the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria.
The plaintiffs, consisting of five residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have filed a suit with the reference number FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023.
The plaintiffs have requested an order restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, any other judicial officer, or any other authority or individual from administering the oath of office to any candidate in the presidential election scheduled for February 25, thereby preventing them from assuming the positions of President or Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The plaintiffs seek a declaration stating that no state in the country can be considered the FCT for any purpose, including section 134 (2) (b) of the Constitution.
Pulse reported that the plaintiffs also seek a declaration stating that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election can be validly declared as the elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without obtaining at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.
Furthermore, they request a declaration stating that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election can be sworn in as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without obtaining 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.
The plaintiffs additionally seek a declaration affirming their legal interest and constitutional rights, as well as those of other FCT residents, to be heard on the matter of whether a President-elect must secure a minimum of 25% of votes cast in the FCT, Abuja, on the initial ballot.
As a result of his victory in the February 25 presidential election on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, Tinubu was declared the winner and is scheduled to be sworn in as President on May 29, 2023, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, candidates from other parties have contested the outcome of the presidential poll. In the midst of ongoing proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the plaintiffs have approached the Abuja chapter of the Federal High Court in an attempt to prevent the inauguration ceremony from taking place.
