By Michelle Chidi
WED. 01 MARCH, 2023-theGBJournal| The Labour Party Nigeria (LP) Vice-Presidential candidate in the just concluded Nigeria Presidential election, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, said today that the party will go to court within the stipulated time after promising that the party will take certain legal action.
The legal action, he says, is at work already and more details will be revealed when Obi speaks to the nation.
He spoke at a press conference in Abuja where he also asserted that the 2023 Presidential Election ‘’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 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rules and guidelines, the Electoral Act 2002 as Amended and indeed the Nigerian constitution,’’ Datti said.
While answering reporters’ question at the end of the statement he read, Datti insisted that the party shall still continue to hold the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to the promise of free and fair elections, just as they are continuing the struggle with Nigerians whom he implored to also continue to struggle to exercise their rights.
According to him,’’ irrespective of the low level of confidence you have in any system, your responsibility is your responsibility.’’
He said, in relation to the upcoming Gubernatorial and States Assembly election, ‘’Nigerians contested the 2023 Presidential Election through Peter Obi and my humble self. We are going to keep the struggle alive, irrespective of the very low confidence we have in any system.’’
Datti noted that the party and Nigerians had extremely low confidence in the promise of the government that there will be a free and fair elections, yet they went ahead into the elections.
‘’So, it doesn’t matter how low the confidence it is in the judiciary, the law is the law. There is the confidence we have in them and there is the confidence we have in ourself and in our case. These are two different things.’’
He added that the confidence the party had in itself and in their case is that elections, so to say, were not held because from the polling units, the Electoral Act 2002 as Amended provided the direct transmission of results. It is that direct transmission of result that says elections were held.
‘’They were not transmitted. What results are you giving. If there are no result, what election are you talking about? He queried.
He argued that Illegality has been performed.
‘’Here is an incoming government for the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is illegal and unconstitutional, as far as we concerned,’’ Datti said.
He said the party is now submitting its case to the court of law, and ‘’it is for them, irrespective of how much confidence the world, Africa or Nigerians have on them, it is for them to show that level of confidence.’’
In conclusion, Datti argued strongly that as far as the party is concerned, they won this election.
‘’They refused to upload results, they refused to refer to the Result Viewing portal (IReV) just for them to defeat us. It took a serving government illegality and constitutional breach to defeat Peter Obi and my humble self. I tell you, we are winners and Nigerian people (they are winners) are waiting for the day when Peter Obi and myself will get to power.’’
Excerpt of the speech he read
We are immensely grateful to the youths and all support groups including Nigerians in Diaspora for their sacrifices, conduct 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 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rules and guidelines, the Electoral Act 2002 as Amended and indeed the Nigerian constitution.
As evident, the institution of the state and leaders that are 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. We implore you all to 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 (LP) in the forthcoming governorship and State House of Assembly elections on 11 March, 2023.
Our Principal, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi will in due course speak to you and indeed the nation.
Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This is a prelude to Mr Peter Obi’s address to the Nation.
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