The Imo Youths for Equity and Justice says there is nothing wrong with any aggrieved presidential candidate challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election. The group’s leader, Frankline Awuzie, stated on Thursday that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not commit any crime under Nigerian law by petitioning the court to contest the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as the winner.
Speaking at a press conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Awuzie warned that alleged plots to incriminate Obi simply because he is challenging the election results would backfire. He criticized the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, for attempting to link Obi to treasonable charges. Instead of crucifying Obi, the political elite should commend him for insisting on exploring legal options to contest the election outcome.
Awuzie emphasized, “In our laws, challenging the outcome of an election in court, the Election Petitions Tribunal, is not a crime in Nigeria. The plot to indict Obi for disagreeing with what INEC did on February 25 will backfire.” He described the manipulation of Obi’s telephone conversation with Bishop David Oyedepo and the treasonable charges preferred by Lai Mohammed as desperate attempts to silence him.
Obi has confirmed that there is pressure on him to leave the country, but Awuzie noted that those plotting against a man who received votes from Nigerians have forgotten that going to court to challenge an election result is part of the electoral process. “They should let Peter Obi be. He hasn’t committed any crime. Our courts will decide who actually won the February 25 presidential election,” Awuzie said. “Peter Obi is a man of the people. He has meticulously followed and obeyed the rule of law.”
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