25% FCT: I don’t see any justification for Abuja voters to be treated better than Lagos-Ebun-Olu

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has spoken on how he agrees with the decision made by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal…CONTINUE READING…CONTINUE READING

The tribunal concluded that in order to be elected president, a presidential contender does not need to receive 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In an interview with Channels TV, Adegboruwa expressed his viewpoint and emphasised the FCT’s equality with other states in Nigeria.

Adegboruwa stated that the tribunal clarified the status of the FCT in court, affirming that during a presidential election, the FCT enjoys the same status as a state. Consequently, it is not obligatory for a candidate to attain 25 percent of votes in the FCT to become President. He expressed his agreement with this verdict and provided his rationale.

He argued that, as a resident of Lagos, he sees no justification for voters in Abuja (FCT) to be considered superior to those in Lagos. He drew attention to Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on birth circumstances, geographical location, or conviction. Adegboruwa’s stance supports the idea that all citizens, regardless of their voting location, should have equal weight in determining the outcome of a presidential election.

Hear him: “The decision of their lordships in respect of the status of FCT is to equate the FCT as a state for the purpose of determining a presidential election, that the FCT is enjoying the same status as a state so it is not required, for instance, that a person should score 25% votes in Abuja before he is declared president, that is their decision.

I agree with their decision and I will tell you why. I live in Lagos State, I don’t see any reason why voters in Abuja should enjoy superiority over those who vote in Lagos because section 42 of our Constitution says do not discriminate against me by circumstances of my birth, geographical location, or conviction…CONTINUE READING