The counsel for the former vice president added that Tinubu should not have been declared the winner of the election because he was not the candidate with the highest legitimate votes.
Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the lead counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, has claimed that the document tendered by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Tinubu's witness regarding the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja favours the argument that 25 per cent votes in the FCT is a prerequisite to winning the 2023 election.
Mike said this during an interview session with Arise News after Thursday's court proceedings.
Atiku in a joint petition with the PDP is challenging Tinubu's victory in the presidential election on, among other grounds, that he did not secure the statutory 25 per cent of votes cast in two-thirds (24 states) and the FCT.
Similarly, Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the election, is challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the poll, insisting that the former Lagos governor did not secure the mandatory 25 per cent votes in the FCT, Abuja.
The lawyer said, "The document he (APC witness) tendered, particularly the report on the FCT, as a symbol of status and fountain of unity of the country, which they tendered was in favour of the petitioners."
The counsel for the former vice president added that Tinubu should not have been declared the winner of the election because he was not the candidate with the highest legitimate votes.
Ozekhome said Tinubu’s victory was doubtful because he did not even win his home state. The lawyer noted that Atiku, Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party won their respective states during the election.
However, Tinubu’s legal team had also claimed before the Tribunal that their client doesn't have to win in FCT Abuja, before he can emerge as president, noting that Tinubu already got 25 per cent spread across the country.
Atiku and Obi are currently challenging Tinubu’s victory in the election, alleging irregularities and rigging.