Mr. Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, has stated that Nigeria deserves better than the current leadership being provided by individuals he described as “the same characters” who are to blame for Nigerians’ misery. Abure, in the statement, reiterated the party’s stance for Monday’s presidential inauguration in Abuja.
The LP Chairman made the following statement released on Sunday: “We wish to say strongly to all Nigerians, and all friends of Nigeria, worldwide: Nigeria has long and arduously suffered from bad leadership, which has continued to revolve around the same characters, same political parties, and same political class.
“Our people need an administration that can run the country for the benefit of all of us,”
“A government that can reduce the biting tension and difficulties that families face in meeting their living needs, and a government that can reduce the reckless corruption, rebuild national institutions, and reposition the country, in all ramifications.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the contentious 2023 Presidential Election, will undoubtedly be sworn in during the presidential inauguration on Monday by Chief Justice of the Federation Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Abure said, “The massive mobilisation, rejuvenation, and affirmation of the people, as expressed in the election of February 25th, 2023, was not to hand over the reins of government, to the same people, with a very bad historical record of conduct, performance, and irresponsibility, but for a new order, where the people will have a greater stake in government and more direct influence in the implementation and supervision of development.
“This New Majority of Nigerian people, from all walks of life, who have awakened to a new consciousness, will not leave the initiative of national development to those who have proved their chronic inability to improve the country by their mismanagement, impunity, and failures.
“That is the trust the people have placed in the Labour Party and the presidential ticket of Mr Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
“This is the same burden of trust, we owe the Nigerian people, to see this matter to a lawful and logical resolution.
“The reality and tragedy of this presidential election have already been well highlighted, to national and global attention.
“On that fateful day, Nigerians from across ethnic, political, and social divides, fired by the promises of President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Mahmud Yakubu, INEC Chairman, reinvigorated hope for a new political and administrative order. Having endured untold difficulties and rigours, in obtaining their PVC’s trooped out in their millions to cast their votes.
” In various states, state governors and public officials, particularly of the APC, directly influenced the voting and threatened, abducted, and tortured electoral officials.
“However, despite varying serious reports of violence, malfunctioning electoral devices, and other hindrances, the voter accreditation and casting process were fairly satisfactorily conducted.
“But after the counting of votes, a dark cloud engulfed the nation. It became clear that the correct password, to transmit the Presidential Election results, electronically and instantly, from the BVAS to the INEC IREV, had been criminally withheld, contrary to specifications of the law and contrary to repeated emphasis, directives, and promises to the nation and its citizens, by Professor Mahmood Yakubu and INEC officials.
“This deliberate act of criminal conspiracy, was the beginning of the most bizarre and crazy rigging of elections in our national history.
“As voting concluded, party officials, especially from the ruling APC, invaded collation centres nationwide, disrupting the process, inducing and intimidating officials. Manual alteration and mutilation of result sheets.
“All over the country, the pattern of this electoral criminality was consistent – votes lawfully cast for the Labour Party candidate, were changed and reduced, and added to increase votes cast for the Presidential Candidate of the APC.
The LP advised all Nigerians, including its followers, to keep expressing their sentiments, feelings, and frustrations while abiding by the law.
According to Abure, the LP has no doubt that justice will ultimately triumph as long as the Party and its followers are aware of the truth and willing to stand by it.
He also expressed optimism that Nigeria will once again have the potential to take on a new course, foster love and trust among its citizens, and experience genuine national growth.
“This not only formed the basis for the flagrant declarations of results at various levels in many parts of the country, totally at variance with the freely expressed wishes of the people, but also the basis for the proposed inauguration of the candidate of the APC, as the President of Nigeria.
“As a law-abiding and responsible political party and conscious of the overwhelming support we enjoy across the country, we have taken the matter before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, in trust and hope for justice, and we will not comment further.”