A legal scholar, Itse Sagay, has explained that a presidential contender does not have to receive 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja to be declared the victor.
Sagay delivered the explanation amid the confusion produced by a supposed article in the constitution that some have taken to suggest that a presidential contender must receive 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in order to be considered the winner.
The senior lawyer said that if the candidate wins 25% of the vote in 25 states, he can be considered the winner even if Abuja is not inclusive.
In response to a question from The Nation, he stated:
The constitutional provision does not rule out the possibility of a candidate receiving less than 25% of the vote in Abuja being considered the winner.
You can be considered a winner if you receive one-quarter of the votes cast in at least 25 states, and FCT is treated as a state for these purposes.
(Editor: Eghosa-Osawe Jr)
