BREAKING: Supreme Court Gives Verdict On 25% FCT Votes

• The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja has given its final verdict on the 25% votes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
• The apex court ruled that the FCT votes do not hold a higher status than other States in the country
• Justice Okoro delivered the judgement on Thursday, October 26 after Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi appealed the tribunal's judgement

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5-year-experience covering government policy

FCT, Abuja - The Supreme Court has upheld the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on the 25 per cent of votes in Abuja.

Justice John Inyang Okoro noted that scoring 25% of votes in the FCT is not a mandatory requirement for the declaration of a candidate as the winner of the presidential election.

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As reported by The Nation, the apex court stated this on Thursday, October 26.

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.

According to The Punch, Justice Okoro, while delivering the verdict asked:

“Are you saying if someone scores 25% votes in 30 states but not in Abuja, he should not be president? Is that how you interpret the law?

“That is not the law. Supreme Court agrees with the Court of Appeal.”

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BREAKING: Dele Momodu reacts as Supreme Court dismisses Atiku, Peter Obi's appeals

The tribunal had on September 6 declared that the Federal Capital Territory does not hold a higher status than other States in the country.

Supreme Court rejects Atiku’s application to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Supreme Court dismissed Atiku Abubakar’s plea to file fresh evidence against President Bola Tinubu.

The apex court told Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the 180 days allowed for fresh evidence is unchangeable.

Atiku had approached the court to grant him the leave to bring more evidence to establish that Tinubu submitted a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Tight security as Supreme Court delivers judgement on Atiku, Obi’s appeal against Tinubu

Legit.ng also reported that there was a heavy presence of armed security operatives at the Supreme Court, Abuja, as the apex court prepares to deliver judgement on the February 25, 2023 presidential elections.

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“It will be unfortunate to go back to dark Old days”: Supreme Court blasts Atiku

There is a mobile security body scanner mounted at the entrance of the court building that everyone has to pass through.

It was gathered that only those with a clearance tag were allowed into the court building as there was a list of journalists expected to cover the session.

Source: Legit.ng