From Our Correspondent in Abuja
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), has declared that a candidate does not need to score 25 per cent of votes in the FCT to win presidential elections.
Chairman of PEPC, Justice Haruna made the declaration, on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Tsammani delivered the lead judgment in the petition filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
According to him, the petitioners based their interpretation of Section 134(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution on the fixation of the word “and”.
“This is completely fallacious if not outrightly ridiculous,” the chairman ruled.
He held that there was equality of rights irrespective of which part of the country voters preferred to live in.
“Every citizen must have equality of rights and this includes votes.
“The futility and hollowness in the arguments of the petitioners that the votes of the voters in the FCT have more weight than others in other parts of the country to the extent that their votes purportedly have a greater effect on other votes are null and void,” the court held.
Read Related News:
PEPC dismisses LP, Obi’s petition, knocks Tinubu, APC
Atiku in court as parties adopt final addresses
PEPC held that the votes of voters in FCT were equal to every other voter in states in Nigeria.
“Hence, Abuja had no special status.”
TheNewsZenith reports that the petitioners had submitted that winning 25 per cent of votes in FCT was necessary for being declared winner in a presidential election.
They argued that this was in addition to meeting other requirements.
The court also ruled petitioners failed to prove that a U.S.A. court convicted President Tinubu of drug-related charges.
Tsammani ruled that petitioners did not establishe any record of criminal arrest or conviction against Tinubu.
He said petitioners failed to show evidence that U.S.A. court detained or convicted Tinubu for any particular offence as alleged.
The justice clarified that the fine imposed on Tinubu by the United States court was over a civil forfeiture proceeding.
Do you have a flair for Citizenship Journalism? Share story(ies) of happenings in your area with The NewsZenith on WhatsApp: 08033668669 or thenewszenith@gmail.com
