In the midst of the ongoing Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja, O’diakpo Obire, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized the Labour Party’s demand for the dismissal and prosecution of Professor Mahmud Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over alleged misconduct during the February 25 polls. During an interview on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily,’ Obire argued that the Labour Party’s attack on INEC stems from their failure to emerge victorious in the presidential elections and that their claims would have been different had they won.
Obire further emphasized that the election should be considered credible, pointing out that the Labour Party managed to secure an impressive six million votes and achieved significant success in the Southeast region and other parts of the country. He stated, “I understand the Labour Party’s point, but the issue is very straightforward. The truth is that this same INEC conducted elections in which the Labour Party obtained over six million votes. This same INEC conducted elections where the Labour Party dominated the entire Southeast region and other parts of the country.”
Obire then posed a hypothetical scenario, suggesting that if the election results had favored the Labour Party, INEC would have been hailed as the best institution Nigeria has ever had. He claimed that the perception of an election’s fairness and freedom often depends on whether the opposition party emerges as the winner.
The statement made by Obire reflects the political dynamics surrounding the allegations against INEC. He implies that the Labour Party’s criticism stems from their disappointment in the election outcome rather than genuine concerns about INEC’s conduct. By highlighting the party’s significant number of votes and regional successes, Obire seeks to diminish the credibility of the allegations and reaffirm the legitimacy of the election process.
source: https://youtu.be/QipodJAZFW4
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