MURIC: Security agencies must caution Datti for saying Tinubu shouldn’t be sworn in

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic rights advocacy group, says Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), should be called to order for saying there is no president-elect.

Ishaq Akintola, executive director of MURIC, said Baba-Ahmed’s remark was “reckless”.

Baba-Ahmed had asked Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), not to partake in the swearing in of President-elect Bola Tinubu, saying it would be a violation of the constitution.

He made the comment with respect to Tinubu’s failure to secure 25 percent of the votes cast in the federal capital territory (FCT) during the presidential election.

The constitutional interpretation of the situation is one of the issues that will be up for debate at the election petition tribunal.

Akintola said Baba-Ahmed’s comment on the controversy is equivalent to calling for a military coup.

He called on religious leaders and relevant authorities to “caution him” over the “provocative” remarks.

“It represents a direct call for insurrection and military coup. No true democrat should utter such a statement. The security agencies will be failing in their duties if they do not caution him and others like him,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

“This transition period is very sensitive. Nobody should be taken for granted.

“The only lawful procedure for changing government is through elections and that has taken place. Any other method is unlawful, illegal, illegitimate and unconstitutional.”

MURIC called on Datti to “respect due process and the rule of law” while warning against “street demonstrations when the issue at stake is already in court”.