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By Chukwudi Nweje
Vice Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, yesterday, warned that Nigeria’s democracy was under threat unless steps were taken to address the flaws that saw the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, as winner.
He claimed Nigeria has no president-elect given the irregularities and breach of the Electoral Act and Constitution of Nigeria in declaring Tinubu winner.
He warned that democracy could end on May 29, 2023 if Tinubu, who he claimed had not met the constitutional provisions to be declared winner of the February 25 poll, is inaugurated.
Baba-Ahmed who spoke on a national television programme, alleged that the Certificate of Return issued to Tinubu was a dead certificate as it was against the provisions of Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that anybody that would be declared president-elect must win 25 per cent of votes cast in at least two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“As it is, Tinubu did not get 25 per cent votes in the FCT, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar did not get 25 per cent votes in the FCT, Labour Party is the only one that scored 25 per cent votes in the FCT; we had 61 per cent votes. As it is in Nigeria, there is no president-elect. An unconstitutional government must never be sworn in because that will be the end of democracy. This democracy will end on May 29 the way we are going.”
The LP vice presidential candidate also decried the entire process of the polls saying it fell below standard. He claimed LP won the presidential election but was denied by INEC.
“We came third according to the figures released by INEC, but in reality we came first. It is unfortunate, tragic that all promises that were made were dashed,” he said.
He blamed INEC for sitting by and watch electoral laws flouted during the electioneering process.
