Following the Supreme Court landmark judgement, affirming the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, the Labour Party has expressed shock over the verdict, calling on the International Community to defend the nation’s democracy.
The National Chairman of the Party, Barrister Julius Abure disclosed the party’s position in a statement on Thursday.
He said, it was indeed another sad day for democracy in Nigeria, therefore, appealed to the international community to stand by the millions of Nigerians who were already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury.
“We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex Court will toe the line of an earlier judgement in spite of all the flaws associated with the judgement delivered by the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.
“We are also calling on the international community to rise to the occasion to defend democracy in Nigeria. Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the presidential election.
“As we approach the next stage of our democratic journey, we call on you to stand by the millions of Nigerians who are already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury”, he said.
The Party Chairman said, “it is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature. This is so unfortunate for our democracy, and it is even more so for the people of Nigeria.
“We weep for our Institutions that cannot rise to the occasion and courageously defend democracy and the voices of our people”, he said.
Abure said, “there are great lessons to be learnt. What transpired in Nigeria since the February 25 presidential election is a clear testament that our institutions are not working and that we may be sliding towards dictatorship”.
He said, “all that our forebearers taught us has been destroyed within a short space of time because of the Unbridled ambition of a few. The founding fathers fought with their lives to achieve independence for the country.
“People lost their lives in the struggle to keep our democracy and all these years people have been struggling to achieve electoral and constitutional reforms. Regrettably, all of these efforts and struggles have been destroyed today”, the Chairman claimed.
He alleged that “the government may have marked some Labour Party’s key leaders, myself especially and our Leader and Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi in particular for vilification, in order to suppress the party, suffocate our team, and our goal of a new Nigeria.
“The planned persecution, intimidation, suppression and harassment of our leaders using security agencies and all other government institutions will be definitely defended.
“We are, therefore, calling on all our members, and the Obidient family to be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead. The struggle for a New Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard”, he said.
Abure said, “having conclusively exercised our fundamental rights as gifted to us by the laws of the land, we have no other choice but to move on. We may be disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of the exercise, but we have chosen to trudge on and to remain optimistic about what the future holds for the nation.
“We urge Nigerians not to lose hope in our Country. Though we are paying a huge price to achieve a Nigeria of our desire. We are hopeful that we will get to our destination someday because where there is a will, certainly, there will be a way. A new Nigeria is still possible”, he said.
