Court Orders FCT Residents to Address Jurisdiction on Inauguration Suit

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to respond to issues of jurisdiction over their application seeking to stop the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29, 2023.

The judge, yesterday, directed residents and voters in the FCT to address the court on their locus standi, and whether there is a similar matter before the presidential election petition court.

At the resumed hearing, counsel for the FCT residents, Mr. Chuks Nwachukwu, told the court that they filed the ex parte application and originating motions, seeking referral of the constitutional matter to the Court of Appeal for interpretation.

The residents are seeking a determination of Section 134 (2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution on any candidate in the February 25 presidential election who does not fulfil the requirement of clinching 25 per cent of votes in the FCT.

The plaintiffs, represented by Anyaegbunam Ubaka Okoye, David Aondover Adzer, Jeffrey Oheobeh Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuke Nwachukwu, are seeking an order of court restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria and any judicial officer and/or any authority or persons from swearing in any candidate in the February 25 election as president or vice president.

They are also praying the court for an order setting aside or suspending any declaration and/or issuance of a certificate of return to any candidate in the election in the country, or 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.

After Nwachukwu’s submission, Justice Ekwo directed the plaintiff to address the court on the jurisdiction and subsequently adjourned the matter to May 18, 2023.