BREAKING: ‘FCT Has No Special Status’ – Supreme Court Declares, Affirms Tinubu’s Victory

Supreme Court has declared that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) holds no special status in relation to the requirement for a presidential candidate to secure 25% of votes cast.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Inyang Okoro asserted that the FCT does not possess any special status regarding the 25% spread of votes as stipulated in Section 134 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) stipulates that a presidential candidate must attain or score a majority of votes cast in a presidential election, where two or more candidates are involved, and at least 25% in two-thirds of the 36 States and FCT to meet the constitutional requirement to be declared as duly elected as President of Nigeria.

“The decision of the lower court that the FCT is equal to a state regarding the 25% of votes is unassailable. I see no difficulty in concurring with the position that the FCT has no special status in this regard,” Justice Okoro stated.

The Supreme Court has set a crucial precedent that 25% of votes in the FCT is not mandatory for a presidential election victory.

The judgment effectively nullifies the argument that Abuja’s status as the capital requires 25% of its votes for a win. Justice Okoro affirmed the election tribunal’s stance that the FCT is equal to other states.