The Labour Party has firmly rejected the ruling by the five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court, headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani. This ruling dismissed the party’s petition challenging Bola Tinubu’s election victory.
In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, it was emphasized that the decision failed to deliver justice and did not align with both legal principles and the will of the people.
The party has indicated that it will announce its subsequent course of action after consulting with legal experts and carefully examining the certified true copy of the judgment.
Labour Party’s statement
- The statement of the party on the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal reads, “The Labour Party watched with dismay and trepidation the dismissal of petitions by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani today and we reject the outcome of the judgment in its entirety because justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people.”
- “We urge all lovers of democracy to remain focused and hopeful because a new Nigeria is possible.”
- ” Labour Party can only weep for democracy in Nigeria, we refuse to give up on Nigeria.“Details of the party’s position will be presented after consultation with our lawyers after the certified true copy of the judgment is made available to us,” Ifoh said.
The five-member panel headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani had earlier on Wednesday dismissed the party’s petitions challenging the outcome of the election.
The LP had approached the tribunal to set aside the president’s victory in the election on the ground that he did not secure 25 percent vote in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The party also faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to transmit the election results electronically in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and asked the panel to void the commission’s announcement on the election. The LP promised to make its position public after consultation with its lawyers on the ruling.
With Africa watching the actions of the Nigerian Judiciary and what this potends for the overall image of the nation and its people in diaspora, observers are worried on what the future holds for a multi ethnic society who,s agreement on rotating the presidency amongst regions, have yet again, colluded in some fashion to deny the Eastern region of Nigeria their turn to become president
IMAGE- Channels
