ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to respond to issues of jurisdiction over their application seeking to stop the President-elect, Bola Tinubu’s inauguration.
Justice Ekwo said the residents and voters in the FCT should address the court on their locus standi, jurisdiction and whether there is a similar matter before the presidential elections court.
Earlier, counsel for the FCT residents, Chuks Nwachukwu Esq, told the court that they filed the ex parte application and originating motions seeking a referral of the constitutional matters to the Court of Appeal for interpretation.
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The Abuja residents are seeking a determination of Section 134 (2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution on any candidate in the 25 February presidential election who did not fulfil the requirements of the 25 per cent of the votes in the FCT.
The residents represented by Anyaegbunam Ubaka Okoye, David Aondover Adzer, Jeffrey Oheobeh Ucheh, Osang Paul and Chibuke Nwachukwu are seeking an order of court restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria and any judicial officer and/or any authority or persons from swearing in any candidate in the 25 February presidential election as President or Vice President.
Also, they want an order of the court “setting aside or suspending any declaration and/or issuance of a certificate of return to any candidate in the February 25th presidential election in the country or having been elected save and except it is judicially determined with finality that such candidate fulfilled the conditions stated at Section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution.”
However, the case was adjourned to 18 May, 2023.