ABUJA, Nigeria
Nigeria's Labour Party
denounced the country's presidential elections on Wednesday, claiming they had
not been "transparent, free and fair".
At a briefing on Wednesday,
Labour Party vice-presidential candidate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed detailed
instances of violence and voter intimidation saying the election was conducted
"in clear violation of agreed and promised INEC (Independent National
Electoral Commission), rules and guidelines."
"It is our position that
the purported results did not meet the minimum criteria of a transparent, free
and fair election. In addition to the most condemnable attacks, violence, voter
intimidation and suppression, the election was conducted in clear violation of
agreed and promised INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) rules and
guidelines." explained Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
The tightly contested election
has redrawn Nigeria’s electoral geography and produced results that are
significantly different from those of past polls, with this being the first
time that a president takes office with less than 50% of the vote and where
four candidates won over a million votes, say analysts.
Labour Party leader Peter Obi
intends to contest the elections results.
"Please be assured of our
determination to fight the injustice that have been perpetrated on Nigerians
through all legal and peaceful means. While painful, we implore you all to
please remain peaceful and calm as our fight and determination for a new
Nigeria is just beginning." added Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Civil Society Organizations
and members of the Labour Party held a demonstration condemning the work of the
Independent National Electoral Commission.
They held up placards reading
"Cancel the 2023 General Elections Now" and "Save Our
Democracy."
The parties now have three
weeks to appeal results, but an election can be invalidated only if it's proven
the national electoral body largely didn’t follow the law and acted in ways
that could have changed the result.
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