Fox Nigeria reports that new application has been filed with the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being sworn in as Nigeria's next president.
Tinubu, who was declared the winner of the February 25th presidential election on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, is set to be sworn in on May 29th, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, candidates from other parties have disputed his victory and are contesting it in court.
In the latest development, five residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have approached the Abuja chapter of the Federal High Court to halt Tinubu's inauguration ceremony. They have filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023, seeking an order to restrain the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, and any other authority or person from swearing in any candidate from the February 25 presidential election as President or Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria until it is judicially determined that the candidate has fulfilled the requirements of Section 134(2) (b) of the Constitution.
The plaintiffs also want a declaration that FCT residents have a legal interest and constitutional rights to be heard on whether a President-elect must secure at least 25% of the votes cast on the first ballot in the FCT, Abuja.
They further seek a declaration that no candidate in the February 25 presidential election may be validly sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without obtaining 25% of the votes cast in the FCT, Abuja.
According to the court documents obtained by Vanguard, the plaintiffs are also seeking a declaration that until a successor is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and sworn in, the term of office of Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria continues in accordance with the provisions of section 135 (1) (a) of the Constitution following the February 25 presidential election.
