After PEPT ruling, Abuja natives demand for governor, senators in FCT, take action against Wike

• The natives will, according to Bwala, approach the court for an order mandating the Federal Government to allow them to produce their governor and three senators
• Writing via his X account, Bwala opined that such a move would enrich the country’s jurisprudence

The cloud formed by the ruling of the presidential election petition tribunal (PEPT) last Wednesday is still hovering precariously over our political terrain and we may not be hearing the last of the ruling and the plethora of legal conundrums it will engender anytime soon.

Recall that the tribunal had upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential poll, dismissing the petitions of candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

One of the grounds for challenging Tinubu’s victory was his inability to secure 25% of the votes cast in the FCT which hitherto was a requirement as enshrined in the constitution and which had been met by every president since the return to civilian rule in 1999.

However, in its ruling, the tribunal scoffed at the prayer of the petitioners regarding the FCT and averred that Abuja was not special in anyway let alone different from other states by way of political and electoral requirements.

Consequently, on heel of the Tribunal ruling, the natives of Abuja are demanding that the FCT should be showered with the same political and economic benefits that accrue to other states of the federation as, according to the tribunal, they are just like them.

To formalise their demands and grievances, the natives will be filing a motion seeking to stop former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike from parading as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Daniel Bwala, a legal practitioner and spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign during the 2023 presidential election, made the disclosure on Monday.

Bwala said that the natives decided to embark on the suit following the ruling from the Presidential Election Petition Court’s judgment stating that Abuja is like any other state.

The natives will, according to Bwala, approach the court for an order mandating the Federal Government to allow them to produce their governor and three senators.

Writing via his X account, Bwala opined that such a move would enrich the country’s jurisprudence.

According to him, “Following the Presidential Election Petition Court’s judgment which states to the effect that Abuja is just like any other state; I am hearing that the natives of Abuja are approaching the court for an order mandating FGN to let them produce their Governor and 3 Senators amongst other peculiarities of a state.

“I am also hearing that Abuja natives are going to file a motion on notice seeking the order of court restraining Wike from parading himself as a minister of FCT pending the hearing and determination of the suit. That they would also seek for a temporary order directing the chairman of Abuja municipal to administer the FCT as an administrator pending the hearing and determination of the case. Wow this will enrich our jurisprudence ohh. After all when Lagos was Nigeria’s capital, Lagos was also a state.FCT natives have been begging for a mayoral status; who knows God may have answered their prayers by giving them a state status.The constitution would now be required to be amended to be consistent with the judgment of the court.”