…calls on all aggrieved parties and candidates to pursue legal means.
A Political Support Group, under the aegis of Bola Campaign Organization (BCO), have stressed the need for caution over the conduct of February 25 Presidential election and the position of the constitution concerning the Federal Capital Territory (FCT Abuja) that saw the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President – Elect and Senator Kashim Shettima as Vice President – Elect.
The group maintained that as a supporter of All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC – PCC) has observed certain subtle threats of violence from the camps of the opposition parties following results of the election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The group made this position known in a statement jointly signed by its National Patron, Alhaji Korede Abdulwahab Quadri (FCIB) and National Coordinator, QS Mohammed Makinta (FNIQS), warning politicians against heating up the polity through unsavory actions and unflattering comments.
This release was made following the statement made by the Labour Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Datti Baba – Ahmed while speaking on a live television programme on Wednesday, calling into question the constitutionality of swearing in the President – elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on May 29 and calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola not to go ahead with Tinubu’s inauguration.
Meanwhile, Datti was seen arguing that the APC failed to satisfy the requirements of Section 134 (2)(a) and (b) of the constitution for the office of the president.
The group maintained that by the provision of the constitution, a candidate doesn’t need to score 25 percent of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory to emerge winner of the country’s Presidential election.
The group appealed to political leaders and their followers to play politics, the political game with decorum and not instigate the people against the government, therefore causing threat to national unity and peaceful coexistence.
The group however urged Labour Party, other aggrieved parties and candidates in the last Presidential election to use all legal means to correct the supposed anomaly observed during the elections.
“Our attention has been drawn to some incendiary comments by the Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Datti Baba – Ahmed calling into question the constitutionality of swearing in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate and winner of the February 25 general elections, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on May 29”.
“Baba-Ahmed, who made a live appearance Wednesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today, was seen calling on Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, not hold that inauguration and Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), not to partake in unconstitutionality,”
“If you do it, you have done something unlawful, something unconstitutional. I’m not taking risks with my safety and with my life. It was more extreme for INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu to issue that certificate; it was reckless. He’s putting all our lives in danger”, Datti said.
“Resort to Section 299 (which states that the FCT is to be treated as a State in Nigeria), is a general provision that has no bearing on Section 134. A general provision cannot override a specific provision. Section 134(2)(b) is a specific provision on the conditions for declaration of a candidate and the presidential winner at the polls”.
“The provision of Section 299 of the Constitution already recognised the FCT as a state and therefore a presidential candidate does not necessarily need to win the seat of Nigeria’s political power to be declared winner of an election”.
“We want to re-emphasised that only the Supreme Court has the authority to interpret the Constitution and not any political party or persons”.
“We are using this opportunity to stress for the need for cautious and also warning politicians and political parties against heating up the polity through unsavory actions and unflattering comments”.
“We are all Nigerians and we do not have any other country to call our own, and we need to guide her existence jealously and not cause any form of anarchy”
“As a state-man which Datti is now being ranked as following his position as a vice presidential candidate in the last election, he should keep calm and not to promote crisis in Nigeria as the country has many crisis to resolve to get back to her rightful position”.
“We appealed to political leaders and their followers to play politics, the political way with decorum and not in any way instigate the people against the government to cause violence or threat to national Peace and unity”.
“Finally, we are calling on all aggrieved parties and candidates in the last Presidential election to use all legal means as the only option towards addressing their Election outcome greviances”.
“Whereas, it is to the knowledge of Nigerian public that the Labour party, its candidates and other parties have already filed petitions at the court of Appeal Abuja which is the official presidential election tribunal to challenge Election outcome matters”.
“It is therefore advised to maintain status quo till the court gives a final verdict thereby peace should be given a chance as we do no have any other country than Our dear Country Nigeria”, he added.
