Dr. Paul Moses Petitions CJN, Seeks Halt to FCT Election Tribunal Verdict Over Alleged Legal Irregularity

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A fresh legal challenge has emerged ahead of the anticipated judgment in a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election dispute, with petitioner Dr. Paul Moses Ogidi calling for an immediate halt to the proceedings over alleged irregularities in the constitution of the Election Petition Tribunal.

Dr. Ogidi, who is challenging the outcome of an Area Council election in Petition No. FCT/ACET/EP/01/2026, has raised concerns that the tribunal scheduled to deliver judgment was not constituted in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the petitioner said the matter had transcended a routine electoral dispute and now raises fundamental questions about the administration of electoral justice and adherence to statutory provisions.

According to him, Section 135(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates the inclusion of a High Court Judge in the composition of an Area Council Election Petition Tribunal. He alleged that the tribunal handling his petition lacks the required composition, thereby casting doubt on its jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.

“The issue before us is not merely procedural; it concerns the very legality and competence of the tribunal,” Ogidi stated.

The petitioner disclosed that his legal team had formally notified the Chief Judge of the FCT of the alleged defect through a petition dated April 10, 2026, seeking urgent reconstitution of the tribunal to comply with the law.

He said no action was taken in response to the petition, prompting a further appeal to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on May 21, 2026.

According to Ogidi, the petition to the nation’s highest judicial officer requested urgent intervention to address what he described as a constitutional and statutory anomaly before the tribunal proceeds to deliver judgment.

He noted that despite the submissions made to the relevant authorities, the concerns raised have yet to be resolved.

The petitioner further revealed that copies of his complaints had been forwarded to several international organisations and diplomatic missions, including the United Nations, the European Union, the United States Embassy and the British High Commission, in an effort to draw wider attention to the matter.

Ogidi maintained that jurisdiction remains the cornerstone of every judicial proceeding and warned that any judgment delivered by a tribunal whose composition is being challenged could face questions regarding its validity.

He argued that allowing the tribunal to proceed while petitions concerning its composition remain pending could undermine public confidence in the electoral adjudication process.

Consequently, he called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other relevant judicial authorities to intervene immediately by determining the pending petitions before any verdict is delivered.

He also urged the authorities to reconstitute the tribunal in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and ensure that all jurisdictional concerns are conclusively addressed.

The petitioner stressed that the controversy goes beyond his individual case, describing it as a test of the judiciary’s commitment to due process, statutory compliance and the preservation of democratic values.

According to him, public trust in electoral dispute resolution mechanisms depends largely on strict adherence to the law and transparent judicial processes.

As of press time, neither the Area Council Election Petition Tribunal nor the judicial authorities mentioned in the petitions had issued any official response to the allegations.

The development is expected to generate significant legal interest as stakeholders await further action from the relevant judicial authorities and the tribunal.

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