Presidential poll: ‘We will go to court alone’ – Labour Party, as Obi set to address Nigerians, int’l community ‘shortly’

Barely hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as winner of the February 25 Presidential elections, the Labour Party (LP) has confirmed it is heading to the court to challenge the outcome of the political exercise, alone.

Making the confirmation, Wednesday, during a an international press conference at the Labour Party Headquarters in Abuja, the Vice Presidential candidate of the LP, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, said the party will challenge the results in due course.

Datti, who explained that the media briefing is a prelude to another one to be held by the party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, added that it has concluded plans, including meeting with its legal representatives, to challenge the election results.

“On behalf of our presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, I address you all and indeed all Nigerians on the current situation in the country following the announcement of the purported results of the presidential election on the 25 February 2023.

“First let me sincerely thank all Nigerians for their belief in us and for coming out en masse to vote for the Labour Party and for the course they believe in — the birth of a new Nigeria. We are immensely grateful to the youths, Obidients and all the support groups, including the groups in the diaspora for their sacrifices and commitment to a better Nigeria.

“It is our position that the purported result did not meet the minimum criteria of a transparent, free and fair election. In addition to the most condemnable attacks, violence, voter intimidation and suppression, the election was conducted in clear violation of agreed and promised INEC rules and guidelines, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and indeed the Nigerian Constitution. As evident, the institutions of the state and leaders that were supposed to ensure the sanctity of the election, again, as was in the past, collaborated and colluded to subvert the will of the good people of Nigeria.

“Please be assured of our determination to fight the injustice that has been perpetrated on Nigerians through all legal and peaceful means.

“While painful, we implore you all to remain peaceful and calm as our fight and determination for a new Nigeria are just beginning. We equally encourage you all to continue with the campaigns and vote massively for the Labour Party in the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections on 11 March 2023.

“We will go to court. We are already talking to our lawyers. And in due course our principal, His Excellency Peter Obi will address you on this. This pres meeting is a prelude to that one.

“We contested the elections as Labour Party candidates, we started this fight as Labour Party candidates, we will challenge the results as Labour Party candidates,” read Obi’s statement.

On the controversy surrounding the denial by the Senate President that electronic transmission was not included in the Electoral Act (Amendment) as passed by the senate, last year, Datti called the lawmaker ‘irresponsible’ for the comment.

According to Datti, it is also not surprising ‘coming from a senator who did not contest the election but won. He contested two elections at the same time against the law and won. It is most irresponsible coming from him to say that,” Datti said.

“The gentleman you are referring to, the Senate President, even though I was a senator and believe in our integrity, this gentleman as far as we are concerned, he contested the presidency and then now is an elected senator returned by the Supreme Court (even though) you cannot contest two offices in the same election.

“It is on record that he contested the presidency and the Supreme Court said he was a senatorial candidate and now he sits as Senate President to give us this kind of opinion.

“It is very difficult for me to say it but I will have to say it. Such an irresponsible person must never be listened to.”

Datti reiterated that no amount of pressure would get the Labour Party or its agents to preach against peace, maintained that despite the outcome of the poll, they ‘still have hope in Nigeria.’

“The LP will continue to hold the President Muhammadu Buhari administration accountable for a free and credible election and remains optimistic of a great outing come March 11 when the governorship and House of Assembly exercise takes place.

The LP vice presidential candidate, however, dismissed speculations of a merger with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as he further insisted that the party is fighting for its mandate alone.

“Our movement is less than eight months old and we won elections in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where they had an eight-year concurrent government.

“As far as we are concerned, we won this. They refused to upload the results, they refused to refer to the IReV. Just for them to defeat us, it took a serving government and constitutional breach to defeat Peter Obi and my humble self. I tell you we are winners,” said Baba-Ahmed.

Reacting to the press briefing by his running mate, the LP Presidential candidate, Peter Obi confirmed via his verified Twitter handle (@PeterObi ) that he also ‘address Nigerians and the international community shortly.’

“Our Vice presidential candidate Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is addressing an international press conference at the Labour Party Headquarters in Abuja. I intend to address Nigerians and the international community shortly. –PO”