A suit filed by five residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seeking to prevent the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as president has been dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The applicants, identified as Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffery Ucheh, Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwachukwu, claimed to be registered voters of the FCT. The suit, marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023, aimed to halt the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and other judicial officers or authorities from swearing in any candidate as President or Vice-President of Nigeria from the February 25 presidential election. The applicants argued that no candidate in the election could be declared President without obtaining at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT. They also sought a declaration that the term of office of President Muhammadu Buhari would continue until it is determined in accordance with the Constitution whether the elected candidate fulfilled the requirements. The suit named the Attorney-General of the Federation as the first respondent and the CJN as the second respondent, requesting the setting aside or suspension of any declaration or issuance of a Certificate of Return to any candidate unless it is judicially determined that the candidate met the conditions outlined in the Constitution.
