The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) election, Dr. Paul Moses Ogidi, has called for the immediate suspension of the judgment in Petition No. FCT/ACET/EP/01/2026, citing concerns over the composition of the Area Council Election Petition Tribunal.
In a statement issued on June 9, 2026, Ogidi said information available to him indicated that the tribunal was set to deliver judgment in the petition involving himself, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and two other parties, despite what he described as unresolved jurisdictional issues.
According to him, the tribunal, as currently constituted, allegedly contravenes Section 135(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which he said requires the inclusion of a High Court Judge in the membership of the Area Council Election Petition Tribunal.
“The crux of the matter is that the Tribunal, as presently constituted, is alleged to be in violation of the mandatory provisions of Section 135(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires the inclusion of a High Court Judge in the composition of the Area Council Election Petition Tribunal,” Ogidi stated.
The AMAC ADC chairmanship candidate said his legal team had petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory on April 10, 2026, requesting the immediate reconstitution of the tribunal in line with the Electoral Act.
“Despite the seriousness of the concerns raised, no response was received and no corrective action was taken,” he said.
Ogidi further disclosed that another petition was submitted to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on May 21, 2026, seeking urgent intervention over what he described as constitutional and statutory irregularities in the tribunal’s composition.
“To date, the concerns raised therein remain unresolved,” he added.
He noted that formal communications on the matter had also been sent to several national and international institutions, including the United Nations, the European Union, the Embassy of the United States of America, and the British High Commission.
The ADC candidate argued that jurisdiction remains the foundation of every judicial proceeding and warned that any judgment delivered by a tribunal whose competence is under challenge could be declared a nullity.
“It is trite law that jurisdiction is the foundation of every judicial proceeding. A court or tribunal that lacks jurisdiction cannot confer validity upon its proceedings by the mere passage of time,” he said.
According to him, proceeding with judgment while petitions challenging the tribunal’s composition remain pending would raise serious legal and constitutional concerns.
“The decision to proceed with judgment while petitions challenging the Tribunal’s composition remain pending before the relevant judicial authorities would raise profound legal and constitutional concerns,” he stated.
Ogidi called for the immediate suspension of the proposed judgment, urgent intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other relevant judicial authorities, and the reconstitution of the tribunal in compliance with Section 135(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
“This is not merely about one election petition or one candidate. It is about preserving the sanctity of the law, protecting public confidence in the judiciary, and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process,” he said.
He added, “Justice must not only be done but must be manifestly and undoubtedly seen to be done.”
The AMAC ADC chairmanship candidate urged the relevant authorities to act swiftly to prevent what he described as a potential miscarriage of justice and to safeguard the integrity of the electoral justice system.
