Call to Reconstitute FCT Area Council Tribunal Over Electoral Act 2026 Discrepancy

A formal application has been filed with the FCT High Court asking for an urgent reconstitution of the Area Council Election Petition Tribunal. The challenge highlights a conflict between the Electoral Act 2022, under which the panel was appointed, and the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026. The petition was lodged by a lawyer on behalf of the APC candidate for the Gwagwalada chairmanship, who is disputing the declared victory of the PDP candidate. It argues that the current trio of judicial officers no longer meets the qualification requirements set out in the 2026 Act, rendering the tribunal’s appointment invalid. Respondents have also filed preliminary objections on the same jurisdictional grounds. With just 90 days to deliver judgment from the filing date and pre-hearing sessions due to start soon, the petitioners urge the Chief Judge to dissolve and reconstitute the panel without delay. They warn that proceeding under the existing composition could lead to the entire process being declared null and void, undermining both the integrity of the election and public confidence in the judicial system.

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