Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP)
in the 2023 elections, says the basis of the telephone conversation between
Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, and Bola Tinubu, president-elect, is
unclear.
In a series of tweets on Friday, Obi said the US should wait
for the presidential election tribunal’s verdict before conferring legitimacy.
Blinken had called Tinubu on Tuesday and pledged to
strengthen the relations between the US and Nigeria.
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.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) May 19, 2023
“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.”
The former governor of Anambra said 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 added.
Add Comment