Barely hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as winner of the February 25 Presidential elections, the Labour Party (LP) has confirmed it is heading to the court to challenge the outcome of the political exercise, alone.
Making the confirmation, Wednesday, during a an international press conference at the Labour Party Headquarters in Abuja, the Vice Presidential candidate of the LP, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, said the party will challenge the results in due course.
Datti, who explained that the media briefing is a prelude to another one to be held by the party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, added that it has concluded plans, including meeting with its legal representatives, to challenge the election results.
“We will go to court. We are already talking to our lawyers. And in due course our principal, His Excellency Peter Obi will address you on this. This pres meeting is a prelude to that one.
“We contested the elections as Labour Party candidates, we started this fight as Labour Party candidates, we will challenge the results as Labour Party candidates.
On the controversy surrounding the denial by the Senate President that electronic transmission was not included in the Electoral Act (Amendment) as passed by the senate, last year, Datti called the lawmaker ‘irresponsible’ for the comment.
According to Datti, it is also not surprising ‘coming from a senator who did not contest the election but won. He contested two elections at the same time against the law and won. It is most irresponsible coming from him to say that,” Datti said.
Datti reiterated that no amount of pressure would get the Labour Party or its agents to preach against peace, maintained that despite the outcome of the poll, they ‘still have hope in Nigeria.’
“The LP will continue to hold the President Muhammadu Buhari administration accountable for a free and credible election and remains optimistic of a great outing come March 11 when the governorship and House of Assembly exercise takes place.
The LP vice presidential candidate, however, dismissed speculations of a merger with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as he further insisted that the party is fighting for its mandate alone
Reacting to the press briefing by his running mate, the LP Presidential candidate, Peter Obi confirmed via his verified Twitter handle (@PeterObi ) that he also ‘address Nigerians and the international community shortly.’
“Our Vice presidential candidate Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is addressing an international press conference at the Labour Party Headquarters in Abuja. I intend to address Nigerians and the international community shortly. –PO”