Hello, I’m reporting on a statement made by Femi Falana, a prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist, concerning the presidential election scheduled for February 25, 2023.
According to Falana, winning the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is not a requirement for a candidate to be declared the winner of the election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program, Falana clarified that, under Section 299 of the Nigerian constitution, the FCT is now treated as a state, and therefore, a presidential candidate who secures two-thirds of the majority of states in the country can emerge as the winner of the election without necessarily winning the FCT.
Falana’s statement has brought to the fore the question of the importance of winning the FCT in previous presidential elections and what this development means for the strategies of candidates vying for the top job in 2023. As a respected legal luminary and human rights activist, Falana’s views on matters of law and justice carry weight in Nigeria and are expected to generate further discussions and debates in the political sphere.
This announcement also highlights the critical role played by the Nigerian constitution in shaping the country’s political landscape and in ensuring that the democratic process is transparent and fair to all parties involved. As the election draws nearer, it will be interesting to see how candidates and political parties adjust their strategies in light of this new information.
