- Why CJN Must Not Swear In Tinubu On May 29- Baba-Ahmed
- Atiku Asks Court To Declare Him Winner Of Poll
- It is rediculous forFresh Oppositions To Tinubu’s Presidency Emerge
Fresh opposition has emerged to the bid of Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be sworn in on May 29, 2023, as the country’s new leader.
The latest opposition to Tinubu’s ambition came from Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), who has declared that Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirements to become Nigeria’s president.
Speaking on Wednesday in an interview on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed said Tinubu failed to fulfil the requirements stipulated in relevant sections of the 1999 constitution (as amended) for election to the office of the president.
He consequently asked Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice Of Nigeria (CJN), not to participate in the swearing-in of Tinubu as president over what he described as a “violation” of the constitution while advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to hold an inauguration ceremony to swear in Tinubu.
He added that swearing in Tinubu as president is “ending democracy” and a clear violation of the 1999 constitution.
“Mr President, do not hold that inauguration. CJN, Your Lordship, do not partake in unconstitutionality,” he said.
According to him, swearing in a ticket that has not met the requirements of the constitution is ending democracy.
Section 134 (2) of the 1999 constitution says: “A candidate for an election to the office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being more than two candidates for the election: (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the States in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“Now, it is very clear that Tinubu does not have 25 per cent in the FCT, we denied him. We got 61 per cent. Atiku does not have 25 per cent in the FCT. We denied both of them.
“By clear and unambiguous provisions of the Nigerian constitution, which must not be breached, Tinubu has not satisfied the requirement to be declared President-elect. Accordingly, there is no President-elect for Nigeria now. Because the declared one violates the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I know what I’m saying.
“That is my interpretation and that is indeed a correct interpretation,” Baba-Ahmed added. You cannot swear [in] people who have not met the constitutional requirements; you can’t do that.
“If you do it, you have done something unlawful, something unconstitutional. I’m not taking risks with my safety and with my life. It was more extreme for [INEC Chairman, Mahmood] Yakubu to issue that certificate; it was reckless. He’s putting all our lives in danger.”
The Matrix had earlier reported that on March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Tinubu, the candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), scored 8,794,726 votes and secured the 25 per cent threshold of total votes in 30 states of the federation but failed to have the threshold in votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The declaration of Tinubu as the President-elect despite not getting 25 per cent of the votes cast in FCT has continued to generate debates.
Earlier, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar had approached the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, to declare him the winner of the February 25 poll or order a rerun between him and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
In the alternative, he wants the entire election nullified and a fresh one conducted.
These are the key reliefs being sought in the petition filed for him and the main opposition PDP.
They are challenging the election on four grounds which are not limited to claims the election of Tinubu, is invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
That his election as President-elect, Is invalid by reason of Electoral corrupt practices.
The petition also stated that Tinubu was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election, and at the time of the election, he was not qualified to contest the election.
They are also praying to the court for the following:
*That it may be determined that the President-Elect was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes cast in the election and therefore the declaration and return of him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the winner of the presidential election, is unlawful, wrong, unconstitutional, and void and of no effect whatsoever.
*They also want it determined that the return of Tinubu by INEC, was unlawful, having not satisfied the requirements of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which mandatorily requires that he to scores nothing less than one quarter (25 percent) of the lawful votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
*It should be determined that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the said election at the time of the election.
*That it Should be determined that Atiku Abubakar, having scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the Presidential election, be returned as the winner of the said election and be sworn in as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the alternative, however, they are asking the court for an order directing INEC to conduct a second election (run-off) between Tinubu and Atiku.
Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity with Tinubu, Ebonyi State’s Governor David Umahi has urged Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and others who contested against Tinubu in the presidential election to embrace peace and join hands with the former Lagos State’s Governor to rebuild Nigeria.
Umahi made the call in a Statewide broadcast and Press Conference held Wednesday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Abakaliki.
The Governor charged them to see Tinubu and Shettima’s victory as the will of God while admonishing them to withdraw their unnecessary litigations.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of INEC, Mahmud Yakubu for the invaluable innovations brought into Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Let me officially congratulate the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima for the glorious victory God granted them.
“I plead with our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi and His Excellency, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to accept the verdict of God and join hands with the President-elect and his Vice to move Nigeria forward.”
