25% Of FCT: Law Professor Reveals What The Constitution Says

A professor of Law, Itse Sagay has clarified that a presidential candidate does not necessarily need to secure 25 percent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to be declared the winner.

Sagay gave the explanation amidst the confusion caused by a reported clause in the constitution which some persons have interpreted to mean it is compulsory for a presidential candidate to secure 25 percent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in order to be declared the winner.

The senior lawyer explained that as long as the candidate meets the threshold of 25 percent in 25 states, he can be declared the winner even if Abuja is not inclusive.

He said in response to an inquiry by The Nation on the subject matter: “The constitutional provision does not mean that a candidate that does not score 25 percent in Abuja cannot be declared the winner.

“As long as you score in one-quarter of the votes in at least 25 states, and for these purposes, FCT is treated as a state, you can be declared a winner.”