ABUJA, Nigeria – The Labour Party, LP, has expressed its disappointment and rejection of the Presidential Election Petitions Court ruling that upheld President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory.
In a public statement released on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, declared that justice had not been served.
“The judgment did not reflect the law and the desire of the people,” Ifoh stated, adding that the party would make its next move known after consultation with its legal team and after receiving the Certified True Copy of the judgments.
In the strongly-worded statement, LP accused the tribunal of overlooking “electoral robbery” during the February 25, 2023 elections.
“Nigerians were witnesses to the electoral robbery that took place, which was globally condemned, but the Tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the obvious,” the statement read.
The Labour Party praised its legal team for their efforts. “We salute the doggedness of our team of lawyers who fearlessly exposed the wrath in our system,” Ifoh said.
He ended the statement with a lament for the state of democracy in Nigeria but affirmed the party’s commitment to keep fighting. “We can only weep for democracy in Nigeria, but we refuse to give up on Nigeria,” he concluded.
The rejection of the court’s judgment by the Labour Party opens the door for further legal or political action, though the specifics are yet to be announced.
The party’s decision will likely depend on the advice of its lawyers once they review the full judgment.
This development adds a new layer of complexity to Nigeria’s already turbulent political landscape.
While President Tinubu’s mandate appears to be solidified by the court’s decision, the outright rejection of the verdict by LP and its vow to continue fighting suggests that the political battles may be far from over.
Political analysts speculate that depending on the Labour Party’s next move, this could either lead to appeals at higher courts or possibly public demonstrations, which would require careful management to ensure they remain peaceful and within the bounds of the law.
