Group to LP: Have a rethink about your utterances | Allow legal process to continue

Non State Actors Consultative Forum (NOSACOF), a non-governmental organisation, has asked the Labour Party (LP) to be mindful of its post-election utterances.

NOSACOF asked LP leaders and supporters to allow the legal process take its course on the petition filed by the party challenging the February 25 presidential election.

The group faulted a recent comment made by Datti Baba-Ahmed, LP vice-presidential candidate, during an interview with Channels Television on March 22.

In the interview, Datti said the country has no president-elect despite the declaration of Bola Tinubu, flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The LP vice-presidential candidate said Tinubu would be leading an unconstitutional government if sworn into office because the APC candidate “has not met requirements of the law”.

NOSACOF also condemned the alleged plot to install an interim government ahead of the May 29 inauguration of a new president.

“These sorts of unpatriotic actions are beyond common politics, and it is very important that Nigerians rise up and condemn such actors and their plans by upholding our democratic values and rule of law,” the group said.

“Politicians who feel aggrieved by the electoral process should follow the constitutional means and seek redress in the courts and election tribunals.

“It is worth pointing out that the PDP and NNPP presidential candidates have shown more decorum and respect to our constitution as they have refrain from this unpatriotic action.

“Instead, PDP has invested its effort in challenging the election in a court of law as constitutionally stipulated.

“It is also worth applauding the stand taken by the defence headquarters on this issue, as in the just recently released statement where it acknowledges such threat and made it very clear that the call for an interim government is illegal and unconstitutional and that the military will stand against such action by upholding our democratic values and rule of law.

“We would also like to call on Perter Obi, his VP candidate as well as their advisors and supporters to have a rethink about their actions and utterances, respect our democracy and follow our constitution in lodging their grievances against the electoral process.”