The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has responded to the recent phone call between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Obi stated that the US should respect the principles of law and democracy by enabling Nigerian courts to determine the victor of the 2023 presidential election, which will be held on February 25.
The former Anambra governor stated this in a series of tweets on Friday, describing Blinken and Tinubu’s interaction as “unclear.”
Remember that Obi has contested the outcome of the presidential election, which saw Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerge victorious.
Blinken had called Tinubu on Tuesday and promised to enhance US-Nigeria relations.
Responding, Obi said, “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,” Obi tweeted.
“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.
“Above all, Nigerians expect that the U.S. responses to our affairs should be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations and interests which ought to transcend the considerations of any individual.”
“Contextually, the willful 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.
“It is thus of overarching importance that a beacon of democracy like the United States should not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that faintly suggests taking sides.
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“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.
“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.”
