Tinubu Cried Out, Urges Tribunal Not to Remove Him as President Over 25%  Abuja Voting Failure.

In a stunning development at the Presidential Election Tribunal, President Bola Tinubu has issued a grave warning, cautioning the tribunal members against removing him from office. Despite acknowledging his failure to meet the constitutional requirement of scoring 25 percent of the votes in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, Tinubu argued vehemently that such a decision would potentially plunge the nation into chaos and anarchy.

Tinubu's legal team, led by the prominent lawyer Wole Olanipekun, presented their final defence statement to the court, focusing on a specific section of the Nigerian Constitution that outlines the criteria for a presidential candidate. This section states that a candidate must secure 25 percent of votes in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The implications of this clause have sparked intense public debate, particularly due to Tinubu's predicament. Despite securing the highest number of votes in a three-way presidential race in February, Tinubu fell short of meeting the 25 percent threshold in the FCT.

Responding to the petitioners, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Tinubu's legal team argued passionately that the courts have always approached constitutional interpretation with caution to prevent potential chaos.

Citing previous decisions, Tinubu's lawyers contended that a purposeful approach must be taken to interpret the Constitution, urging the tribunal members to consider the consequences of their ruling carefully.

Moreover, Tinubu's legal team asserted that even if he had failed to secure any votes in Abuja and one other state, his victory would still have been valid. However, it is important to note that this argument was not put forth by the petitioners.

Tinubu's lawyers concluded their arguments by urging the court to dismiss the petitioners' claims and rule in favor of the respondent, emphasizing the potential chaos that could ensue if Tinubu were removed as president.

The outcome of this tribunal decision carries immense significance, as it could set a precedent for future interpretations of the constitutional clause regarding the threshold for presidential elections. With the nation anxiously awaiting the tribunal's ruling, the potential ramifications on Nigeria's political landscape and the rule of law hang in the balance.