There Is No Shortcut – Labour Party Knocks Tinubu Over ‘Anarchy Threats’

The Labour Party (LP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to refrain from making threats against the judiciary, asserting that his removal from office through a court ruling would not lead to anarchy in the country.

Tinubu had previously cautioned about the potential consequences of nullifying the election that resulted in his presidency. He expressed concerns that such a decision, based on his failure to secure 25% of the lawful votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), could result in chaos, absurdity, anarchy, and a distortion of the legislature’s original intent.

During the presentation of his final written address to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPEC), where petitions filed by candidates from the LP, Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, challenging the

validity of Tinubu’s victory were being heard, the president made these remarks.

In a statement issued on Monday by the national publicity secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, the party cautioned Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to approach the matter, which is still under court proceedings, with caution.

The party emphasized that no amount of pressure exerted on the judges in the tribunal would alter the established legal processes and requirements.

The statement read: “We are concerned that the statement, which formed part of his submissions and was contained in his final written address against the Labour Party’s petition pending at the PEPEC, and meant to be in the exclusive custody of the court, was leaked to the media.

“We still do not understand the reason behind this act of desperation, especially when the matter is still pending in court. However, we will be careful not to term the action as sub-judice.

“Having said that, the Labour Party believes that the statement was unnecessary since the matter is already before the court, and making further comments on it could be interpreted as interference in the duties and responsibilities of the judiciary.

“The truth of the matter is that there is no room for sentiment when it comes to matters of law. The law is the law, and once it has stipulated the procedures and requirements that must be followed, they must be adhered to.

“If the law states the requirement that a presidential candidate must fulfill before being declared, there is no shortcut to it.

“Therefore, if the constitution, which serves as the foundation of the law in Nigeria, has clearly stated that a candidate must score at least 25% in the FCT for the presidency to be declared, anything short of that cannot rectify it.

“We insist that no amount of threats from the APC against the judges in the tribunal can alter the established processes and requirements set forth by the law. They must be followed, and that is the position of the Labour Party.

“Let me assure the APC and their leaders that if there was no chaos, absurdity, and anarchy when they forcefully took power, Nigeria will still experience peace when they are eventually removed from power.”