The Federal High Court has scheduled May 24 as the date for ruling on the lawsuit filed by residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Five FCT residents, namely Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Uche, Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, filed the suit seeking to halt Tinubu’s inauguration scheduled for May 29.

In their lawsuit (marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023) filed on April 28, the plaintiffs argued that Tinubu failed to secure the required minimum of 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT.

They are requesting a court order restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria and any judicial officer or authority from swearing in any candidate from the February 25 presidential election as president or vice president.

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The plaintiffs also seek to nullify the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and prevent the CJN and other judicial officers from swearing in any candidate as president or vice-president of Nigeria until the court determines the matter.

During the hearing, the plaintiffs’ counsel, Chuks Nwachukwu Esq, informed the court about their ex parte application and motions seeking referral of constitutional matters to the Court of Appeal for interpretation.

Justice Inyang Ekwo requested the FCT residents and voters to present arguments regarding their legal standing and whether a similar matter exists before the presidential election court.

The hearing was adjourned until May 24, when the judge will rule on the issues of locus standi, jurisdiction, and the existence of the matter in the presidential election petition court.