Votes Cast In All Parts Of Nigeria Are Equal, Says Falana

Femi Falana, Human rights lawyer, SAN, says votes cast in all parts of Nigeria are equal, stating that Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has been declared to be the 37th state of the country.


He was commenting on Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution which has become a major issue in the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election.

However, on Channels Television Sunday Politics, Falana, stated he will not be making a definite comment on the issue at the moment since it has become a major legal matter now pending in court, pointing out that court decisions on the status of Abuja already exist.

Falani said, “I had expressed an opinion on section 134 of the Constitution on the 23rd of January this year – that is about a month before the presidential election. On that occasion, I expressed a legal opinion and that is why I was very hesitant to join the bandwagon when lawyers started to give political interpretations of that section.

“I did state that there is no electoral college in Nigeria and therefore the votes cast or recorded in any part of the country are equal. Section 134 of the Constitution specifically requires a winner of a presidential election to meet certain requirements. The first one is to score the majority of lawful votes and the second is territorial spread, a two-thirds majority of the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“And since the FCT has been interpreted to be a 37th state in Nigeria for the purpose of the constitution I didn’t see any controversy at the material time and that was when I expressed my opinion.

“But now that it has become a serious legal issue and the matter is now pending in court, I am very reluctant to speak definitively on the section because there are decisions of the court on the status of Abuja”.

Section 134 sub-section 1 (b) of the 1999 Constitution says that a winner of a presidential election must not have less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The winner of the February 25 presidential election, Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), failed to secure 25% votes in the FCT, raising concerns about the interpretation of that section of the Constitution.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party(LP), have filed petitions at the Presidential Election Tribunal challenging Tinubu’s announcement as the winner of the 2023 presidential election. Atiku and Obi were declared second and third respectively.

Na when Tinubu nor meet requirements that's when we begin to hear that votes cast are equal.

Section 134 is not saying votes are not equal. It is saying that you should get 25% in the FCT. If you can get 25% in 30 states then why should FCT be a challenge given its demographics?

It's not like it's Igbo people there, according to urchins, that will thwart the 25%.

Ibo's don't think strategically and long term. Can't they see they are digging a big hole for themselves and the rest of us. Imagine if the judgement is "you must have 25% in abuja" all that any sensible Hausa politician needs to do is 1) transfer all the people that voted labour party out of Abuja. 95% are (Ibo and ministry workers)
2) replace with only people that will vote their party.( civil servants will take oath)
3) bring up a law to close all shops and dealerships in Abuja hotels inclusive (they are run by Ibo business men mostly
4) once step 1 to 3 are done 90% of labour party voters will need to migrate their families out of the town and not bother coming for election.
5) closedown all hotels owned by IBo
6) restrict contracts to only known party members and their families.
7) when election comes restrict movement to Abuja to preserve your calculated 25% resident loyalist
Abuja is very small and it's an artificial city. Contract is about the only thing happening there so all I said is possible. If they can stop Okada and Keke even nightclub they can drastically close business run by IbO(labour party voters). End result is one party will rule forever since they will control the population in Abuja. That is what I will do anyways

skj1377:
Ibo's don't think strategically and long term. Can't they see they are digging a big hole for themselves and the rest of us. Imagine if the judgement is "you must have 25% in abuja" all that any sensible Hausa politician needs to do is 1) transfer all the people that voted labour party out of Abuja. 95% are (Ibo and ministry workers)
2) replace with only people that will vote their party.( civil servants will take oath)
3) bring up a law to close all shops and dealerships in Abuja hotels inclusive (they are run by Ibo business men mostly
4) once step 1 to 3 are done 90% of labour party voters will need to migrate their families out of the town and not bother coming for election.
5) closedown all hotels owned by IBo
6) restrict contracts to only known party members and their families.
7) when election comes restrict movement to Abuja to preserve your calculated 25% resident loyalist
Abuja is very small and it's an artificial city. Contract is about the only thing happening there so all I said is possible. If they can stop Okada and Keke even nightclub they can drastically close business run by IbO(labour party voters). End result is one party will rule forever since they will control the population in Abuja. That is what I will do anyways

shut up, the court was set up for a reason. If not that you're irresponsible, is Atiku too an Igbo man? Why are you particular about the Igbos and dodge in mentioning the Hausa Fulani man that also challenged Tinubu questionable victory in the presidential election you coward?

Peter Obi and Atiku abubakar have done the right thing by approaching the court to challenge Tinubu's questionable victory so let's leave the case to the judges to interprete the law on FCT 25% mark and then pass judgement .

Another case hanging on Tinubu neck is the drug case he has been accused of by the united States government. This is a serious case that should have disqualified Tinubu from even contesting in this election . But the court will also decide that .

NothingDoMe:
Na when Tinubu nor meet requirements that's when we begin to hear that votes cast are equal.

Section 134 is not saying votes are not equal. It is saying that you should get 25% in the FCT. If you can get 25% in 30 states then why should FCT be a challenge given its demographics?

It's not like it's Igbo people there, according to urchins, that will thwart the 25%.

Even Falana said that he addressed this same issue in January? You Obidients will forever remain obstinate.

Miss interpretation, all it says is that the Abuja is considered the 37th state, and so the winner is meant to get 25% in two third in 37 states, instead of 36 states.

Simple arithmetics.

JUSTICE FALANA OR STILL JUST A SAN?


WE NOWHAVE YOUNGER GENERATION OF LAWYERS THAT DONT COMPROMISE ON LEGAL JUSRISPRUDENCE FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCE.



KINDLY SAVE YOUR SUBMISSION FOR THE COURTS AND NOT THE MEDIA.



TINUBU DID NOT WIN FCT AND CANNOT BE PRESIDENT, ALL PREVIOUS PRESIDENT, WON FCT AND THAT IN IT SELF IS A REFLECTION OF THE WILL OF NIGERIANS.



THE RIGGING DONE BY INEC ON BEHALF OF TINUBU WAS ALSO VERY SHAMEFUL FROM A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.



HENCE, TINUBU PRESIDENCY WILL NOT STAND, IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE WITH 1 NIGERIA.

SpartaOfLagos:
shut up, the court was set up for a reason. If not that you're irresponsible, is Atiku too an Igbo man? Why are you particular about the Igbos and dodge in mentioning the Hausa Fulani man that also challenged Tinubu questionable victory in the presidential election you coward?

Peter Obi and Atiku abubakar have done the right thing by approaching the court to challenge Tinubu's questionable victory so let's leave the case to the judges to interprete the law on FCT 25% mark and then pass judgement .

You and who see what? You must have time on your hands to be waiting for a dead before arrival case.

Atiku & Peter Obi looking to save face, Shameless Things.

They begged that idiot not to run, selfish minded thing ran away from pdp & cost them the election, now he has gone to court?

Useless Hypocrite Apga Betrayer.

NothingDoMe:
Na when Tinubu nor meet requirements that's when we begin to hear that votes cast are equal.

Section 134 is not saying votes are not equal. It is saying that you should get 25% in the FCT. If you can get 25% in 30 states then why should FCT be a challenge given its demographics?

It's not like it's Igbo people there, according to urchins, that will thwart the 25%.

Read and comprehend. He made the same submission on January 23rd, that was a month before the presidential election.

favor914:
You and who see what? You must have time on your hands to be waiting for a dead before arrival case.

Atiku & Peter Obi looking to save face, Shameless Things.

If not that you're shameless yourself , you won't be supporting Tinubu after the damning report on his drug case in the united states back in the day.

Don't worry, when the fire works starts in the court , you go shame for the thief you suported to lord over you and your house hold

SpartaOfLagos:

If not that you're shameless yourself , you won't be supporting Tinubu after the damning report on his drug case in the united states back in the day.

Don't worry, when the fire works starts in the court , you go shame for the thief you suported to lord over you and your house hold

Which drugs case? But honestly speaking I wouldn’t blame poor minded people like yourself for your ignorance.

The destruction of the poor is their poverty, $460,000 forfeited 30 years ago, till today your family hasn’t seen that kind of money, so who really cares about a Peasants opinion?

It’s no different from an Oshodi Danfo Driver putting his mouth MC Oluomo’s Ferrari F-50 discussion.

skj1377:
Ibo's don't think strategically and long term. Can't they see they are digging a big hole for themselves and the rest of us. Imagine if the judgement is "you must have 25% in abuja" all that any sensible Hausa politician needs to do is 1) transfer all the people that voted labour party out of Abuja. 95% are (Ibo and ministry workers)
2) replace with only people that will vote their party.( civil servants will take oath)
3) bring up a law to close all shops and dealerships in Abuja hotels inclusive (they are run by Ibo business men mostly
4) once step 1 to 3 are done 90% of labour party voters will need to migrate their families out of the town and not bother coming for election.
5) closedown all hotels owned by IBo
6) restrict contracts to only known party members and their families.
7) when election comes restrict movement to Abuja to preserve your calculated 25% resident loyalist
Abuja is very small and it's an artificial city. Contract is about the only thing happening there so all I said is possible. If they can stop Okada and Keke even nightclub they can drastically close business run by IbO(labour party voters). End result is one party will rule forever since they will control the population in Abuja. That is what I will do anyways

I need to know where your thinking faculty is.... Seems is located in between your legs

skj1377:
Ibo's don't think strategically and long term. Can't they see they are digging a big hole for themselves and the rest of us.

Imagine if the judgement is "you must have 25% in abuja" all that any sensible Hausa politician needs to do is

1) transfer all the people that voted labour party out of Abuja. 95% are (Ibo and ministry workers)

2) replace with only people that will vote their party.( civil servants will take oath)

3) bring up a law to close all shops and dealerships in Abuja hotels inclusive (they are run by Ibo business men mostly

4) once step 1 to 3 are done 90% of labour party voters will need to migrate their families out of the town and not bother coming for election.

5) closedown all hotels owned by IBo

6) restrict contracts to only known party members and their families.

7) when election comes restrict movement to Abuja to preserve your calculated 25% resident loyalist
Abuja is very small and it's an artificial city.

Contract is about the only thing happening there so all I said is possible.

If they can stop Okada and Keke even nightclub they can drastically close business run by IbO(labour party voters). End result is one party will rule forever since they will control the population in Abuja.

That is what I will do anyways

Strategic wickedness, highly detailed for execution.

favor914:
Which drugs case? But honestly speaking I wouldn’t blame poor minded people like yourself for your ignorance.

The destruction of the poor is their poverty, $460,000 forfeited 30 years ago, till today your family hasn’t seen that kind of money, so who really cares about a Peasants opinion?

Atleast you've admitted that truly, he was involved in court case and that Tinubu forfeited $460,000 to the united states government as plea bargain . This same drug case was revisited by the united states government in the build up to the presidential election . The case maybe 30yrs old case to you but it happened like ''yesterday" to the united states government.

Tinubu is a drug baron who shouldn't have been allowed to contest in this election in the first place

SpartaOfLagos:

Atleast you've admitted that truly, he was involved in court case and that Tinubu forfeited $460,000 to the united states government as plea bargain . This same drug case was revisited by the united states government in the build up to the presidential election . The case maybe 30yrs old case to you but it happened like ''yesterday" to the united states government.

Tinubu is a drug baron who shouldn't have been allowed to contest in this election in the first place

You probably lack common sense, if not you would have known that a forfeiture in any plea deal is end of case, all Uncle Sam via the IRS wanted was the money, if you had by chance lived in The United States, you would have known that this is a much ado about nothing issue.

No case, dead before arrival, statute of limitations doesn’t even allow for a court to hear same.

favor914:
You probably lack common sense, if not you would have known that a forfeiture in any plea deal is end of case, all Uncle Sam via the IRS wanted was the money, if you had by chance lived in The United States, you would have known this is a much ado about nothing issue.

No case, dead before arrival.

If no case like you've wrongly said, why then did the united states government released the documents of the Tinubu drug case in Chicago for the first time in a week to the presidential election ??

If no case, then why has the united states "President" Mr Joe Bidden refused to congratulate Bola Tinubu on his questionable election victory till date ?
You think the united states care about Tinubu and has forgotten the drug crime that he committed on united States soil in Chicago ? Lol

SpartaOfLagos:

Stop bleating up and down and wait for the court case to begin ...
Shebi Tinubu has hired SANs to defend him while Mr Peter Obi got about 25 SANS who volunteered to take up the case without collecting shishi

We will see how the case will end

Beyond Court case, I am awaiting the resumption of your Biafra agitation/endsars disguise in full gear, all your actions have been presumed before the election, since those of foresight had guaranteed a definitive loss for Peter Obi & Atiku.

Court cases thrown out for want of merit, next line of action full Biafra agitation resumes again because of Bola Tinubu this time around, President Buhari has done his 8 years of ignoring & tormenting them 5%ers.

favor914:
Beyond Court case, I am awaiting the resumption of your Biafra agitation in full gear, all your actions have been presumed before the election, since those of foresight had guaranteed a definitive loss for Peter Obi & Atiku.

Court cases thrown out for want of merit, next line of action full Biafra agitation resumes again because of Bola Tinubu this time around, President Buhari has done his 8 years of ignoring & tormenting them 5%ers.

Tinubu is a documented drug trafficker, the case will never be erased for the rest of his thiefing life..

The united states government will always see him as drug criminal and Nigeria will be mocked if Tinubu is sworn-In as president (God forbids)

Let the court conclude

SpartaOfLagos:

Tinubu is a documented drug trafficker, the case will never be erased for the rest of his thiefing life..

The united states government will always see him as drug criminal and Nigeria will be mocked if Tinubu is sworn-In as president (God forbids)

Sorry you have to live with it, either you agitate, or leave the shores of Nigeria.

This documents will be presented in court as evidence and the united states government officials will also be invited in this case as witness

SpartaOfLagos:

The documents released by the united states government in 2022 on Bola Tinubu drug case are numerous but let me post a few ..

You did not read what you posted, you just saw the sensational headline and got excited?, read paragraphs, an allegation against Tinubu is for money laundering which ended in a plea, the case was dismissed.

favor914:
You did not read what you posted, you just saw the sensational headline and got excited, read paragraphs, an allegation against Tinubu is for money laundering which ended in a plea, the case was dismissed.

I just posted a few of the documents .. and the 5 in the second documents clearly stated that $460,000 proceeds of drug money were forfeited by Tinubu to the united states government .

Would there be forfeiture if there s no crime ?


I don't have the time to download all the documents . This are just a few ...
This is a serious case but I don't expect you to believe it's serious because of the N30,000 stipends Tinubu throw at you to defend his corrupt ass

SpartaOfLagos:
This documents will be presented in court as evidence and the united states government officials will also be invited in this case as witness

Tinubu was working for American oil giant ExxonMobil as their treasury as of the time this issue of drugs came up in 1988, if he was directly involved, why didn’t ExxonMobil fire him?

favor914:
Tinubu was working for American oil giant ExxonMobil as their treasury as of the time this issue of drugs came up in 1988, if he was directly involved, why didn’t ExxonMobil fire him?

If he wasn't directly involved, why then did he forfeited a whooping $460,000 to the united states government..

He should have atleast gone to court to prove his innocence instead of forfeiting that huge sum to the U.S government right ?

SpartaOfLagos:

I just posted a few of the documents .. and the 5 in the second documents clearly stated that $460,000 proceeds of drug money were forfeited by Tinubu to the united states government .

Would there be forfeiture if there s no crime ?


I don't have the time to download all the documents . This are just a few ...
This is a serious case but I don't expect you to believe it's serious because of the N30,000 stipends Tinubu throw at you to defend his corrupt ass

Ok assuming but not conceding, forfeiture of $460,000 in Illinois in 1993, is a crime in Nigeria?

The Supreme Court of Nigeria in the country of the fantastically corrupt will remove Tinubu because of a vague out of jurisdiction accusation like this?

If you even took your time to read the section of the constitution you are relying on, you would have noticed clearly, it says convicted of a crime by a competent court or tribunal in Nigeria.

Only when it refers to have filed for bankruptcy, foreign countries apply.

NothingDoMe:
Na when Tinubu nor meet requirements that's when we begin to hear that votes cast are equal.

Section 134 is not saying votes are not equal. It is saying that you should get 25% in the FCT. If you can get 25% in 30 states then why should FCT be a challenge given its demographics?

It's not like it's Igbo people there, according to urchins, that will thwart the 25%.

A lawyer, A SAN. said he wont comment on the matter because its before a court but chukwudi is here making categorical statements .
I cant wait to see how all of una go begin wail once supreme court clears you peoples eyes.

Try again 2027....you already know you didn't win majority of Lawful votes thats why you now want to use any means possible to usurp power....some of you have started a petition online to make third place holder the winner of the election..... so you people dont even want to follow democratic principles of election to get to power .....ELU pee and obidients will never cease to amaze me

SpartaOfLagos:

If he wasn't directly involved, why then did he forfeited a whooping $460,000 to the united states government..

He should have atleast gone to court to prove his innocence instead of forfeiting that huge sum to the U.S government right ?

You just reiterated the point, he forfeited the money, that discussion of the money forfeiture is between Tinubu’s lawyers & the DA, no charges was filed against Bola Ahmed Tinubu & his Compass Consultants the case was dismissed, you cannot wake a dead horse again.

Stop wasting your time chasing shadows.

favor914:
Ok assuming but not conceding, forfeiture of $460,000 in Illinois in 1993, is a crime in Nigeria?

The Supreme Court of Nigeria in the country of the fantastically corrupt will remove Tinubu because of a vague out of jurisdiction accusation like this?

If you even took your time to read the section of the constitution you are relying on, you would have noticed clearly, it says convicted of a crime by a competent court or tribunal in Nigeria.

Stop interpreting the constitution upside down.
You seem like a fantastically corrupt person because only a corrupt minded person will defend a character like Tinubu..

The court will do justice to this case