25% Requirement: FCT No More Special Than Other States, Tribunal Rules

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has ruled that the Federal Capital Territory does not hold a superior status compared to other states in the country.

Justice Haruna Tsammani, the lead judge of the five-member panel, made this declaration during the tribunal’s session in Abuja on Wednesday.

He pointed out that Section 134 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) clearly states that for a presidential candidate to be declared duly elected as President of Nigeria, they must secure a majority of votes in a presidential election where two or more candidates are competing, and also secure at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 States and the FCT, meeting the constitutional requirements.