₦airaland Forum

This needs to be resolved ASAP and the candidate with the highest votes should be declared winner.

This requires some explanations on what score informed the decision to declare her the winner.

History made

PoliteActivist:
Seems I am discussing with someone who doesn't have proper grasp of English language. You don't know what "effectively" means

Here's my statement again. Focus on the word "effectively":-

Consider that there is NO LIMIT to number of words you can use in a constitution!!!
Something as important as a presidential election! You can take your time and expantiate as you wish.

They could have added, "Any state can be substitute for FCT". THEY DIDN'T!!

They could have said, "25 states with FCT being counted as a state" THEY DIDN'T!!

They could have said, "⅔ total number of states, with FCT considered a state, and the result rounded up to the next whole nimber". THEY DIDN'T!!

They could have simply said, "A candidate does not have to get ¼ in FCT to win the presidency", THEY DIDN’T

Instead what they EFFECTIVELY wrote is:

"⅔ of 36 States, AND (PLUS) FCT"!

And someone is here arguing it is perfect!
- and comming up with all sorts of convoluted fractions and rounding ups!

Instead of stating the OBVIOUS INTERPRETATION (the ONE interpretation that avoids all that) - IT MEANS WHAT IT SAYS - ¼ in ⅔ of 36 states; AND ¼ IN FCT!!!!

Again, the highlighted is your own partisan edit to a written constitution.

36 States and FCT is the totality of Nigeria and the intended catchment area for the 25% in 2/3 condition that is written once for that subsection to apply at once to 36 States and FCT.

Not a condition to apply to 36 States, and same condition to apply separately to FCT.

Case closed!

PoliteActivist:
Do you know the meaning of the word "effectively"?
I wrote:

Instead they EFFECTIVELY wrote:
"¼ in ⅔ of the 36 states, AND (PLUS) ¼ in FCT"!

Same issue will keep arising until the constitution is re-worded. Just a few words in the constitution will avoid all this discussion but people like you are too blinded by narrow partisan interests to see beyond your nose!

You are the partisan one here who even restructured the section of the Constitution to support your position.

If what you wrote is how it is written, then Tinubu would need 25% in FCT but could argue it as a constitutional matter that it was wrong since no electoral college exist in Nigeria and that the voters in 1 unit out of 37 are not more important than to the other 36 units.

But it is not even written the way you have presented it.

The way it is written is indicative of all that make up Nigeria which is 36 states and FCT, is the catchment area from which the candidates need to get 2/3 at 25% votes or more.

And that might explain your own self inflicted misinformation in this debate.

PoliteActivist:
Why the insults on my person? To what end? Supporting something that is OBVIOUSLY faulty. Just accept that the constitution needs to be re-worded!
Which is obvious OR same issue will keep arising as it did in 1979!
Read the below historical precedent and compare it to your rambling submission:

Similar provision was made in the 1979 constitution.
Then we had 19 states and 2/3 of 19 is 12.667 (12 2/3). After the election Sagari had min 25% scored votes only in 12 states and was declared winner. Awolowo took him and FEDECO (Then INEC) to court.

The 13th state was the issue, which was Kano State. Shagari scored 243,423 votes, equivalent to 19.4% of the 1,220,763 total votes cast in Kano State.

Guess what? The Tribunal calculated the 0.667 (2/3) of the votes in Kano, then calculated 25% of it for Sagari, and Sagari votes was enough for that. That was how Sagari became President without a rerun.

That is why Shagari truly did not meet the requirements then as there can never be 12-2/3 but 13, which Shagari did not meet. Sadly the courts ruled in his favour rather than allow a 2nd ballot.

You made it seem like it was nonsensical to conclude that 2/3 of 37 is 25. Besides that is not even the issue in Tinubu's victory as he has more than enough states for that to even matter.

I have attached the text of the relevant section of the Constitution.

It stated the conditions and stated the sample area from which the condition needs to be met.

That sample area is all of Nigeria (36 States and FCT, without any comma or without restating the condition to refer exclusively to FCT as a separation criteria.

PoliteActivist:
Not only that, the drafters could have simply written:

"⅔ of 36 states, but FCT can substitute for a state"
OR
"25 states with FCT being counted as a state"

They didn't!!

Instead they effectively wrote:
"¼ in ⅔ of the 36 states , AND (PLUS) ¼ in FCT"!

We can't read their minds to know what they intended, but we can read and understand simple English, and that's exactly what they WROTE!!!

There is no comma before the AND in the written law you are referencing. That is your own addition.

Infact what you presented as law is your own edited version as I have highlighted starting with the comma.

If you know English, you would know there is a difference between AND after a comma versus AND without a preceeding comma.

Also there is no reason at all why they need to clarify for you what you already know that as at 1996 onwards, Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT.

None needs to substitute the other when describing the total geographical units that make up Nigeria.

Your own folly is not the folly of others.

Own your own folly.

No matter the straightforward or explicit phrasing of any country's constitution, there would always still be gray areas that need constitutional interpretation by the Supreme Court.

It is the case in every country with a constitution.

PoliteActivist:
So you finally overcame shame and embarrassment and actually stated the NONSENSICAL?!

WHERE IN THE CONSTITUTION DID IT TELL YOU TO ROUND ANYTHING??

Give it up already!

So you foolishly thought the divisions of Nigeria is predetermined so that you will arrive at a whole number whenever 2/3 of the totality of Nigeria is required?

What manner of Ignoramus are you?

So what happens when more States are created?

Or you think Nigeria was 36 States and FCT from independence?

I do not need the constitution to know that 2/3 of 37 is not a whole number, so any candidate who has 24 out of 37 is still below the benchmark.

Only 25 out of 37 would put any candidate above the benchmark.

Tinubu and APC already achieved 30 out of 37.

He stands validly elected.

PoliteActivist:
He/she is still too ashamed to conclude.

So please sir/ma conclude: what is ⅔ of 37 component units??

Consider that there is NO LIMIT to number of words you can use in a constitution!!!
Something as important as a presidential election! You can take your time and expantiate as you wish.

They could have added, "Any state can be substitute for FCT". THEY DIDN'T!!

They could have said, "⅔ total number of states, with FCT considered a state, and the result rounded up to the next whole nimber". THEY DIDN'T!!

They could have simply said, "A candidate does not have to get ¼ in FCT to win the presidency", THEY DIDN’T


Instead what they wrote is (bearing in mind there is no limit to number of words they coukd use):

"⅔ of 36 States AND FCT"!!!!

And now you want us to accept that "36 States and FCT" is same as saying: "The whole of Nigeria". Did they tell you that's what they meant?? Why didn't they just add "The whole of Nigeria"?? Whatcwas stopping them??
So you see sur/madam, you have no case!

The conclusion of 2/3 of 37 is 25 to the nearest whole number.

25 units out of 37 whole.

The 25 can be any 25 unit out of the 37.

So 25 States or 24 States and FCT.

Very straightforward except for the mentally handicapped.

Remember, I am not the one who divided Nigeria to be 36 States and FCT.

And the section of the law was referring to the total geographical composition of Nigeria.

Again to aid your comprehension, we all know that Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT.

Case closed!

PoliteActivist:
See how you talked yourself into a corner and can't conclude!

SO CONCLUDE!!

What does "not less than 25% in 2/3 of 36 States and FCT." mean??!!

Can't you people see that if you have to write a long essay with references to history before applying such a simple statement, that something is wrong?!

"Not less than 25% in 2/3 of 36 States and FCT" - the closest thing it can mean is: "Not less than 25% in 2/3 of 36 States; and not less than 25% in FCT"
Anything else, you'd have to write a looong essay, with references to history!

Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT.

Why is your comprehension fighting that reality.

Any reference to the totality of Nigeria is a reference to 36 States and FCT. That is 37 component units.

The rule is to secure 25% or more votes in 2/3 of the totality of Nigeria.

That is 2/3 in 36 States and FCT. That is 37 component units.

But you are a loser, so i do not find it weird that you have to keep hope alive.

Very simple.

There is a lot of anti-government sentiment in Abuja.

LP and Obi also sold themselves as the messiah.

Lastly, Religious warfare as deployed by Obi campaign was effective in Abuja among the Christian indigenes and migrants.

So evidently it became a stronghold of LP just like the SouthEast.

Alas, not enough for Obi to win like Tinubu who had a more national appeal across a broader geography.

Ogene001:
Projects abandoned while Niger Delta oil money is used in building SW and North. At least SE got second Niger bridge

While Oil accounts for about 90% of our forex earnings, it is not up to 10% of the National revenue.

So not all government expenditure is from Oil proceeds.

Ogene001:
Why should Atiku talk about 25% when he didn't make the 25%. Make una de find consolation

And it is Obi that made 25% in 2/3 of Nigeria but is stuck with 16 out of 37?

Ogene001:
I remember when Peter Obi went to court over interpretation of of four year tenure. It sounded crazy then, but guess what? The court interpreted it differently from what people thought and for that reason, we now have staggered guber elections

And I hope when the Supreme Court interpretes the controversial section as meaning the totality of Nigeria (36 States and FCT) for which Tinubu already got the 25% or more in more than even 2/3 of Nigeria with his 30 States, you would not cry foul?

Liftkid:
Why did we read this in nursery and primary school, "36 States and capital " ?

And you want to claim after the 36 States there was no AND FCT with Abuja as capital?

Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT.

Those of use who were scooling before 1996, knew Nigeria as composed of 30 States and FCT.

Any thing that applies to the whole of Nigeria, applies to 36 States and FCT.

There is no confusion in the matter.

2/3 of Nigeria is 2/3 of 36 States and FCT (total of 37 units), that is 25 units ( so 25 States or 24 States and FCT).

Very straightforward matter, except for losers who have to keep hope alive.

Nigeria is composed of 36 States and FCT.

To describe Nigeria in terms of its geographical components, it would always be stated as 36 States and FCT.

A company is informing its customers that it is allover Nigeria, would say they have offices in 36 States and FCT.

You want to describe 2/3 of Nigeria is saying 2/3 of 36 States and FCT.

The requirement is to score not less than 25% in 2/3 of Nigeria.

That is, not less than 25% in 2/3 of 36 States and FCT.

PoliteActivist:
You are all arguing the same point but comming up with different numbers!!!
So, have a meeting amongst yourselves and decide which number you will jointly adopt!

Instead of being honest and admitting that the wording in the constitution needs to be changed to avoid this happening again in the future, you are insisting that "⅔ of 36 states and FTC" means something other than what it simply and clearly says.

To any HONEST person "⅔ of 36 states and FTC" is more likely to mean "⅔ of 36 states; and ⅔ in FTC" and NOT "⅔ of 37 states" OR "⅔ of 36, but FCT can substitute for a state".

As for the guy arguing common sense, this is not about common sense or what is reasonable. It is about what is ACTUALLY written in the constitution!

Nigeria is composed of 36 States and FCT.

To describe Nigeria in terms of its geographical components, it would always be stated as 36 States and FCT.

A company is informing its customers that it is allover Nigeria, would say they have offices in 36 States and FCT.

You want to describe 2/3 of Nigeria is saying 2/3 of 36 States and FCT.

The requirement is to score not less than 25% in 2/3 of Nigeria.

That is, not less than 25% in 2/3 of 36 States and FCT.

Upworkwriter007:
A professor of law should goan learn law from a novelist? Nice one.

Some people make very scandalous statements.

That was an example.

infohenry:
You people claim he played religious politics but your party since the campaign always use the term core Muslim state in the north, APC is a party for men and women with dead conscience who sees black and call it white. Obi cannot get vote in the North because he is Igbo, Muslim will not vote because he is Christian, you turn around and call him bigot.
Shame I shall the same space with people like you.
Let give you the answer you seek, even Obi failed in the 25% argument which I doubt, he got the majority lawful vote cast on that election.

States like, Edo, Delta, Imo, plateau, lagos, Ondo, Benue, Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Ogun, Rivers, Obi votes where massively suppressed by politician and allocated to his opponents.

On the number of states won Obi was denied Bayelsa, Benue, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom, in all he won 15 states with Fct. This is a fact but we are in Nigeria where people like you exist.

How come you are not claiming Obi's votes were suppressed in Osun, but claim his votes were suppressed in Ogun and Ondo?

Who stole Obi's votes in Benue that is ruled by PDP and which the PDP Governor fighting his own party declared he would support Obi, but the state was won by APC that did not have any state government support?

You over estimated Obi's political relevance and mistake discontent for Buhari or APC as support for Obi. Meanwhile you did not consider the local political mood as in the Benue case where the PDP and Ortom were considered as useless by the people, and the fact that APC had Fr Alia who was soaring in the minds of the state electorate.

You also thought that the Yorubas would not vote a performer like Tinubu even if due to tribal solidarity, when Obi was being fronted by the same Igbos who had earlier condemned him as a failure, also in tribal solidarity.

Ceenaija:
The case is not closed, that aspect of the Constitution does not need interpretation the word AND does not sound ambiguous. The supreme court can invite the writers of chambers dictionary to help them. AND is conjunction word.

Why is AND a problem to you or anyone?

Is Nigeria not made up of 36 States and FCT?

If anyone needs to attain anything in any fraction of Nigeria, be it 1/4 or 1/2 or 2/3, that whole of Nigeria is 36 States AND FCT.

Or is the FCT not part of Nigeria?
Or you wanted the law to state 37 States so as to eradicate the AND conjunction?

So the FCT is part of the total area of Nigeria, from which a candidate must secure 25% or more in 2/3 of the area of Nigeria as composed by its 37 units which is made up of 36 States and FCT.

I know it is not hard to comprehend, but a loser must find something to hold on to.

Ceenaija:
The compulsory Abuja FCT 25% vote requirement for presidential election winner is like a bone in the throat of the APC. Neither Inec or supreme court will be able to save them from the quagmire.

Only LP needs to be saved while stuck at 3rd position and unable to meet 25 States or 24 States and FCT.

APC has swallowed every bone in its path, and is well prepared for another presidential inauguration of a victorious APC candidate.

Everyone knows that Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT, that serve as the component units.

To win a presidential election, the winning candidate must have,

1. Majority votes among all the contestants.
2. 25% or more votes in 2/3 of 36 States and FCT (Nigeria), which is 25 component units out of 37 units, which can be 25 States or 24 States and FCT.

Tinubu already met rule 1 and surpassed rule 2 by securing the 25% or more in 30 States.

I repeat for the dull ones, Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT, so any description of the geographical units that makeup Nigeria is 36 States and FCT, which serve as the sample area from which 25% or more of 2/3 must be secured.

Losers should stop grasping at straws while stuck at 15States and FCT.

Case closed!

PoliteActivist:
Point is, we should correct the faulty wording in the constitution NOW - or years hence another generation will be dealing with same issue!

No faulty wording but faulty partisanship.

Everyone knows that Nigeria is made up of 36 States and FCT, that serve as the component units.

To win a presidential election, the winning candidate must have,

1. Majority votes among all the contestants.
2. 25% or more votes in 2/3 of 36 States and FCT (Nigeria), which is 25 component units which can be 25 States or 24 States and FCT.

Tinubu already met rule 1 and surpassed rule 2 by securing the 25% or more in 30 States.

Elluu Pii missing in the core North, but looking for national mandate to steal.

Flapp478:
So what is "Breaking" about it?
Some of you don't understand the meaning of Breaking when writing stuffs like this.

That is the directive from the Obi WhatsApp group.

They have to tag everything they rehash as breaking or tension.

Very shameless losers who are stuck in campaign mode.

Which certificates were forged or which drug crimes?

Soon you would tell us Soyinka never condemned Jubril el Sudani for being a clone.


You Igbos continue to delude yourselves.

But is there any surprise that an olodo has fellow olodos as his supporters?

You mean you lost faith in yourselves and your inability to have good governance in the SouthEast.