7th September, 2023
The Labour Party has refused to back down on its message to its followers to take back Nigeria in “whatever way” possible.
Peter Obi’s party had dropped the message on Wednesday during the sitting of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) to determine the legitimate winner of the February 25 presidential poll.
The message reads: “Nigerians be ready to take back your country, in whatever way you can. Nobody is more Nigerian than any Nigerian.”
Twenty-two hours after, the post continued to generate comments that could threaten Nigeria’s democracy, the Labour Party refused to take it down.
The party also rejected the ruling of the Tribunal which affirms the victory of Bola Tinubu of APC.
The Labour Party, after the ruling, argued that its lawyers exposed the rot in Nigeria’s system.
“What is at stake is democracy and we will not relent until the people will prevail. We salute the doggedness of our team of lawyers who fearlessly exposed the wrath in our system. We can only weep for democracy in Nigeria but we refuse to give up on Nigeria,” the statement from LP reads in part.
Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, the lawyer of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, also continued the threats by claiming that election litigants may resort to self-help if they continue to find it very difficult to establish their case.
The Punch quoted the lawyer as warning that if care was not taken, litigants will get justice through unlawful means.
“If we are not careful, our electoral jurisprudence will eventually disappear. I am saying this with every amount of sincerity because when the litigant, when those who contested the election continue to find it very difficult to establish their case due to obstacles on the way, starting with INEC, certainly they may resort to some other means of trying to get justice, which may not be lawful.”
President Tinubu reacts to Tribunal’s verdict.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assured Nigerians of his renewed and energized focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation, following the judgment by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
President Tinubu said he welcomed the judgment of the Tribubal with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities.
The President recognizes the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law.
The President affirmed that his commitment to the rule of law, and the unhindered discharge of duties by the Tribunal, as witnessed in the panel’s exclusive respect for the merits of the petitions brought forward, further reflects the continuing maturation of Nigeria’s legal system, and the advancement of Africa’s largest democracy at a time when our democratic system of government is under test in other parts of the continent.
The President said he believes the Presidential Candidates and Political Parties that have lawfully exercised their rights by participating in the 2023 general elections and the judicial process, which followed, have affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
The President urged his valiant challengers to inspire their supporters in the trust that the spirit of patriotism will now and forever be elevated above partisan considerations, manifesting into support for our Government to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.
Once more, President Tinubu thanked all Nigerians for the mandate given to him to serve the country.