- By Halimah Olamide
Nigeria’s democracy is founded on these principles which the American people hold dear. Without the risk of interfering in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, the U.S.-Nigeria relationship should be guided by the core values of democracy.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Obi, on Friday expressed anger over the United States government endorsement of the president elect, Bola Tinubu.
Obi said the US Government ought to await the outcome of an ongoing judicial inquiry into the election before confirming legitimacy on the process.
The LP candidate who is currently challenging the election of Tinubu, rule of law is the most fundamental tenet of every democracy.
He said all these were trampled upon during the last election.
“There is still a lack of clarity on the basis of the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken’s call to APC’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 16th May 2023. The most fundamental tenet and core value of democracy is the rule of law,” he said via his Twitter page on Friday.
He said that Nigerians expect that the U.S. responses to Nigeria’s affairs should be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations and interests which ought to transcend the considerations of any individual.
He added, “Contextually, the wilful manipulation and falsification of the will of Nigerians as freely expressed during the February 25 elections cannot be overlooked by the true friends and partners of Nigeria.
“There is an evolving political and judicial process around the last presidential election in Nigeria. We expect the United States to await the full resolution of the ongoing judicial processes before tacitly conferring legitimacy on any of the contending parties.”
Saying that the Nigerian electoral laws have been violated, Obi said these are some of the reasons the US government went against the interests of Nigerians by its congratulatory call to Tinubu.
“The final determination of the true winner of the election can only be made by the relevant courts of law. More so, the issues in judicial contention imply far-reaching violations of both the Nigerian Electoral Law and the Nigerian Constitution,” he said
NPO Reports that Tinubu was declared winner of the February 25 presidential election, defeating Obi and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abuka, that of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and others.
While Atiku and Obi are challenging the victory, some other candidates have pulled out of the petition after withdrawing the petitions from the tribunal.