ABUJA, Nigeria — The Labour Party, one of Nigeria’s major political entities, will not bow to the recent judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, that did not favor their candidate in the February 25 presidential election, according to National Chairman Comrade Julius Abure.
In a statement released to the press on Friday, September 8, 2023, Abure asserted that the party “won the presidential election,” irrespective of the tribunal’s ruling.
He assured members of the Obidient movement—a major support base for the Labour Party—that the party’s political clout is on the rise.
“We have in our kitty today a governor, 35 members of the House of Representatives, 8 distinguished Senators, and several House of Assembly members,” Abure said. “Our participation in the 2023 general election, no doubt, has changed the political landscape in the country.”
While Abure expressed gratitude to the Obidient family and the general public for their “efforts, financial contributions, and moral support,” he made it clear that the party would be seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court in the election matter.
The Labour Party chairman also encouraged members and supporters to draw inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s autobiographical book, “A Long Walk To Freedom,” in which Mandela discusses the challenging but necessary steps towards freedom.
“Today in the words of Mandela, every step we have taken and would take leads us to our freedom, leads us to taking back our country, and it leads us to taking back Nigeria,” Abure affirmed. “Even the judgment is also a step towards reclaiming our country.”
The Labour Party is preparing its papers for the Supreme Court, as Abure confirmed: “We have protested, and they said don’t protest, ‘go to Court,’ and we are in court. Today all eyes are on the judiciary. For us as a party, we are going to sustain this momentum.”
Abure called on all supporters to remain committed to the vision of a Nigeria that “belongs to all Nigerians who have trust in the capacity of the Labour Party to make it work for all.”
With the Labour Party declaring its intention to challenge the presidential election results in the Supreme Court, the political landscape in Nigeria is set for another period of scrutiny and potential upheaval.
Whether this move will bring the change the party seeks remains an open question, but what is certain is that the Labour Party is willing to fight for what it perceives as a just and democratic outcome.
