March 01, (THEWILL) – The vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Wednesday, disclosed plans by his party to challenge the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the February 25 presidential election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Wednesday, declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who announced the results, said the former Lagos state governor polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who scored 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of Labour party, who polled 6,101,533 votes.
The presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso came a distant fourth with a total of 1,496,687 votes.
However, speaking on Wednesday, at a press briefing in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed said the election did not meet the minimum standard as prescribed by the Electoral Act (2022)
He said: “It is our position that the purported result didn’t meet the minimum criteria of a transparent, free and fair election in addition to the most condemnable attacks, voter intimidation and suppression.
“Please be assured of our determination to fight the injustice that has been perpetuated on Nigerians through all legal and peaceful means.
“We implore you all to please remain peaceful and calm as our fight and determination for a new Nigeria is just beginning. We equally encourage you all to continue with the campaigns and vote massively for the Labour Party in the forthcoming governorship and state House of Assembly elections on 11 March. Our Principal, Mr Peter Obi, will in due course, speak to you and indeed the nation.
“We also ask Nigerians to continue to exercise their civic duties in the upcoming elections. I have said that democracy belongs to the people who can practice it. The only language we know is peace. If Nigerians are going to achieve peace through peaceful protests, so be it.”
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