(a) if it is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, refer the question to the Court of
Appeal;
or
(b) if it is of opinion that the question does not involve a substantial question of law, remit the question to the
court that made the reference to be disposed of in accordance with such directions as the Federal High Court or
the High Court may think fit to give.
(2) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this constitution arises in any proceedings in the
Federal High Court or a High Court, and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question
of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Court of
Appeal; and where any question is referred in pursuance of this subsection, the court shall give its decision upon
the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision.
(3) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this constitution arises in any proceedings in the
Court of Appeal and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court
may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Supreme Court which shall
give its decision upon the question and give such directions to the Court of Appeal as it deems appropriate.
296. In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, "office" when used with reference to the validity of
an election to an office includes the office of President of the Federation, Vice-President of the Federation and
Governor or Deputy Governor of a State but does not include the office of President of the Senate, Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Speaker of a House of Assembly or any office established by this Constitution.
Chapter VIII
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and General Supplementary Provisions
Part I
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
297. (1) There shall be a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja the boundaries of which are as defined in Part II of the
First Schedule to this Constitution.
(2) The ownership of all lands comprised in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall vest in the Government of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
298. The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall be the Capital of the Federation and seat of the Government of
the Federation.
299. The provisions of this Constitution shall apply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as if it were one of
the States of the Federation; and accordingly (a) all the legislative powers, the executive powers and the judicial powers vested in the House of Assembly, the
Governor of a State and in the courts of a State shall, respectively, vest in the National Assembly, the President
of the Federation and in the courts which by virtue of the foregoing provisions are courts established for the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;
(b) all the powers referred to in paragraph (a) of this section shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions
of this Constitution; and
(c) the provisions of this Constitution pertaining to the matters aforesaid shall be read with such modifications
and adaptations as may be reasonably necessary to bring them into conformity with the provisions of this
section.
300. For the purposes of Chapter V of this Constitution, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja shall constitute one
Senatorial district and as many Federal constituencies as it is entitled to under section 49 of this Constitution.
301. Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of section 299 of this Constitution, in its application to
the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, this Constitution shall be construed as if-