Winning 25% in FCT, not compulsory requirement for victory in presidential election – Falana

Femi Falana, the human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has clarified that winning the Federal Capital Territory in a presidential election is not a requirement to emerge as the president of the country.

Falana said this during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday evening.

This clarification comes against the backdrop of the constitutional provision on the quota to be won across the states in the country to be declared the presidential winner.

He said: “It is not a requirement that you must win the FCT. The courts have ruled that pursuant to Section 299 of the constitution, that the FCT should be treated as a state. That is the law.

“You don’t have to win the FCT. If you meet the requirement; that is two-thirds of the majority of states in the country. You don’t have to win the FCT.

“The concern that has arisen is that looking at the campaigns going on, people are wondering whether any candidate will win those stringent constitutional requirements: 25% and at least two-thirds of the state and of course the majority of lawful votes all over the country”, he concluded.