The Labour Party (LP) assured President Bola Tinubu that the
court’s decision to remove him from
office would not result in anarchy in the
country.
Tinubu had requested the presidential election tribunal to
dismiss the LP’s petition, which sought to invalidate his victory based on his
failure to secure 25 percent of the lawful votes cast in the federal capital
territory (FCT).
Representing Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, his counsel, argued in
a final written address to the tribunal that the FCT should be considered as
the 37th state for electoral purposes. Any other interpretation, according to
Olanipekun, would lead to “absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and alteration of
the very intention of the legislature.”
In response, the LP issued a statement on Monday, delivered
by Obiora Ifoh, the party’s national publicity secretary, stating that Tinubu’s
comment was unnecessary since the matter was already before the court.
The LP emphasized that the All Progressives Congress (APC)
should exercise caution in handling the case, which was still being deliberated
in court. The party highlighted that no amount of pressure on the tribunal
judges could alter the established processes and requirements stipulated by the
law.
Expressing concern, the LP stated that Tinubu’s leaked
statement, which formed part of his submissions and was meant to be in the
exclusive custody of the court, had been released to the media. The LP,
however, refrained from labeling the action as sub-judice.
The Labour Party emphasized that the statement was
unnecessary, as the matter was already before the court, and discussing it
further could be seen as interfering with the judiciary’s duties and
responsibilities.
The party stressed that matters of law should not be
influenced by sentiment. The law is the law, and once it has specified the
manner and requirements for a particular matter, those guidelines must be
followed.
The LP reiterated that if the constitution stipulates that a
presidential candidate must attain at least 25 percent in the FCT to be
declared the winner, there can be no shortcuts. Anything falling short of that
requirement cannot be rectified.
The party firmly stated that no amount of threats from the
APC to the tribunal judges could alter the established processes and
requirements set forth by the law. The Labour Party insisted on adherence to
the law, maintaining its position.
Lastly, the LP assured the APC and its leaders that if there
was no absurdity, chaos, and anarchy when they assumed power, Nigeria would
experience peace when they were eventually removed from office.
