Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the recently concluded general elections has advised the United States to allow the court to decide who actually won the February 25 nationwide exercise.
Mr Obi came third according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The former Anambra governor is challenging the outcome of the race won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Tuesday, reports of US Secretary of the State, Antony J. Blinken, telephoning President-Elect Bola Tinubu filtered in on social media, a development Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that came second described as demoralising.
Reacting in a statement reproduced on his social media accounts on Friday, the former Anambra governor said the action of Secretary Blinken suggested that the country was taking sides in the race whose outcome is still being challenged at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
He advised that the court be allowed to decide the actual winner of the exercise.
“There is still a lack of clarity on the basis of the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken’s call to APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 16th May 2023. The most fundamental tenet and core value of democracy is the rule of law,” Mr Obi said in the statement.
“Nigeria’s democracy is founded on these principles which the American people hold dear. Without the risk of interfering in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, the U.S.-Nigeria relationship should be guided by the core values of democracy.
“Above all, Nigerians expect that the U.S. responses to our affairs should be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations and interests which ought to transcend the considerations of any individual.
“Contextually, the willful manipulation and falsification of the will of Nigerians as freely expressed during the February 25 elections cannot be overlooked by the true friends and partners of Nigeria.
“It is thus of overarching importance that a beacon of democracy like the United States should not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that faintly suggests taking sides.
“There is an evolving political and judicial process around the last presidential election in Nigeria. We expect the United States to await the full resolution of the ongoing judicial processes before tacitly conferring legitimacy on any of the contending parties.
“The final determination of the true winner of the election can only be made by the relevant courts of law. More so, the issues in judicial contention imply far-reaching violations of both the Nigerian Electoral Law and the Nigerian Constitution,” he concluded.
