Labour Party To Fight INEC’s Declaration Of Tinubu As President-Elect In Court

By Kehinde Jemine

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party’s vice presidential nominee, has stated that his party will file a lawsuit to challenge the election that produced President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

At a press conference on Wednesday conducted at the national office of the Labour Party in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed disclosed the information.

The former congressman stated that the party was resolved to use all legal and peaceful measures to combat the injustice that had dashed the hopes of devastated Nigerians.

Baba-Ahmed criticized the election for falling short of the minimal requirements set forth by INEC guidelines and the Electoral Act of 2022.

He stated:

“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 2002 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 and as 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 have been perpetrated on Nigerians through all legal and peaceful means.

“While painful, we implore you to please remain peaceful and calm. As our fight and determination for a New Nigeria is just beginning, we equally encourage you all to continue with the campaigns and vote massively for Labour Party in the forthcoming governorship and states house of Assembly election on Saturday 11th March 2023.

“Our Principal, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi will in due course speak to you all and indeed the nation.”

Meanwhile, the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council has said that the way and manner the Independent National Electoral Commission hurriedly announced the election results and issued Certificates of Return to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, raises questions of a collusion.

The development is coming barely 24 hours after Tinubu was announced as the winner of Saturday’s presidential poll.

The APC flag bearer polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party’s Peter Obi who polled 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes respectively.