The Yoruba social cultural organization (Afenifere), has maintained their support for the Presidential candidate of the Labour party at the last presidential election Mr. Peter Obi.
The group equally faulted the judgment of the PEPT, which questionably dismissed all the prayers of the labour party candidate at the tribunal.
Recall that on the 6th of September, 2023, the presidential election petition tribunal had dismissed the petition filed by Mr. Peter Obi challenging the ascension of Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the elected President of Nigeria.
Mr. Obi approached the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the judgment of the PEPT. Obi while addressing news men at his residence in Awka after the judgment, made it clear that the matter has not yet reached its logical conclusion. Obi revealed that his legal team has already received firm instructions to file an appeal against the Tribunal’s decision.
He expressed unwavering determination in his pursuit of justice, not only for himself but also for the multitude of supporters across the nation whose electoral mandate he said, was unjustly thwarted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Obi underscored the pivotal role of solid national institutions and the public’s confidence in them for a thriving democracy. Afenifere decleared that they are in total support of the Labour Party’s candidate as there were obvious errors in the judgement passed by the PEPT.
In a communique after a meeting held at its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s Ogun residence on Tuesday, the group stated “we remain convinced and undeterred on the just principles with which we agreed to support Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
“In line with our disagreement with the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the 2023 elections, we support a further appeal to the Supreme Court in the interest of the nation.”
It also faulted the court’s “pronouncements that the INEC is at liberty to return to the manual collation of election results and all the primitive electoral practices, even when a new electoral act has been introduced.
“Neither is it true with our political structure that Nigeria is now a 37-state federation as the Court of Appeal erroneously pronounced.”
Afenifere further maintained that “no person or group of persons shall hold the reins of power except in the proven interest of a fair, equitable, inclusive and thus united Nigeria in their peaceful, prosperous and harmonious diversity.”
“Government is called upon to look into the plight of Nigerians and listen to the NLC to avert the looming strikes in the interests of the already prostate economy,” the communique issued by Adebanjo read.
“Government needs to open up to Nigerians and those in power come down from their ostentatious life styles,” Afenifere noted.
“From the humongous number of 50 Ministers with intractable number of aides, it is unacceptable that the people are being called upon to make further sacrifices.”
SOURCE: Democracy Today
IMAGE: Octave
