The election tribunal has dismissed the argument of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party that President Bola Tinubu did not meet the qualification of the constitution as regards securing 25 per cent of the votes cast in Abuja, the FCT.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, who read the ruling, said the FCT does not enjoy a special status in that Nigerians residing there are not superior to citizens in other states; hence, Mr Tinubu’s election triumph cannot be invalidated mainly because he did not score 25% votes in the FCT.
“The second (Tinubu) and third (Shettima) respondents have averred that the FCT does not enjoy a special status over other states of the federation and that Abuja is still inhabited by Nigerians who are deemed equal to Nigerians in any other part of Nigeria and residents of Abuja are not conferred with any privilege or advantage that is not afforded to citizens of other communities or states of Nigeria.
We are, therefore, of the view that the petition is irrelevant,” the tribunal declared.
