The Gombe State Labour Party governorship candidate in the just concluded election, Keftin Amuga, has backed a former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal’s position that Peter Obi won the 2023 presidential poll.
Lawal, a chieftain of the LP, recently alleged that the presidential candidate of his party, Obi, defeated President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress at the March election.
Amuga, in an interview with our correspondent, urged the Supreme Court Justices to declare Obi the winner.
He said, “I join the former SGF, millions of Nigerians nationally and internationally in backing the demand for the restoration of the electoral victory of Peter Gregory Obi.
“Prior to the February 25 polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission gave assurances that it was going to conduct the freest and fairest polls, but to our utmost dismay as LP members/supporters and the majority of Nigerians, the results of our presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, from reliable data, revealed that the electoral umpire failed to sum up the party’s tally during the collation of results nationwide.
“It was glaring that the 2023 polls were marred by irregularities nationwide that had led to the hearings of over 1000 petitions at the tribunal including that of our presidential candidate.”
He passed a vote of no confidence in INEC’s conduct at the polls, citing instances of electoral fraud that robbed Obi a clear victory
“Equally, during the announcement of the Presidential results in my local government area of Billiri, Gombe State, the presiding officers declared Obi as the outright winner from the over 10 wards with 45,000 votes, but what was later declared and announced by the State INEC returning officer was to give Peter Obi only 26,000 votes got from the whole of Gombe State, which ironically is the same votes allotted for our candidate from the Bauchi State INEC. Surely, any building erected on a sandy foundation is bound to collapse.
“Hence, I am in support of the call by the former SGF urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign now in the best interest of his integrity and the country.
“Currently, the President’s actions on security, economy, appointments, unemployment, citizens welfare have resulted in a lack of accountability, transparency, and responsibility, which are crucial qualities needed in any leader,” he said.
Commenting on Tinubu’s certificate saga, Amuga said the President’s continued stay in office may further fragment the country.
“Therefore, Tinubu’s continued stay in office may polarise the country along primordial cleavages and cause more harm than good and may further damage the country’s integrity and reputations in view of current court rulings on the certificate worthiness of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“After careful consideration and observation of the situation in the country, it is with regret that I must say I support the call by the former SGF, David Babachir Lawal, that Mr Peter Gregory Obi won the 2023 presidential election. The trust and confidence in the electoral umpire have been eroded, and it is in the best interest of the country for them to acknowledge their flaws.
“As Nigerians, let us unite, and relentlessly demand the restoration of the people’s mandate given to our presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, even as the hearing at the Supreme court slated for October 23, 2023, begins,” Amuga added.
