Dan Nwanyanwu, the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, has revealed that he was the only one speaking out when this issue of 25% in the FCT came up ten years ago. This is in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the petition regarding the issue of FCT and uphold President Tinubu’s win in the presidential election.
Speaking in an interview with AIT, Nwanyanwu firmly disagreed with the idea that a presidential candidate must win the FCT in addition to winning a significant number of states to become president. He considered it an unfair requirement, particularly because the FCT was seen as not contributing much to the national economy but still receiving substantial funds.
According to him, “The law should not be seen as something that is strict. It’s like this FCT matter, on which I disagree. 2008, 10 years ago, when this matter came up, I was the lone voice in the wilderness. I said this cannot be right. With greatest respect, learned justice of the Supreme Court, I disagree with you. You cannot tell me that, after winning 24, 25, 26, and 30 states, you say I cannot be president because I didn’t win FCT. FCT that contributes nothing to the economy but spends all the money. It’ll not happen; I’ll be president. So that was my problem, then. Senior lawyers confronted me. Who are you to challenge the Supreme Court? I said, Look, let me repeat what I have been saying. In the auditorium of the law, faculty of the University of Lagos, our professors told us that it was possible for us to challenge them, but you must have read more than what they have read. You can also challenge the justices of the court with respect.”
