Peter Obi Urges US To Await Tribunal Verdict Before Recognizing Tinubu’s Victory

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has urged the United States to wait for the tribunal’s verdict before recognizing the victory of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Peter Obi made the call while reacting to a recent phone conversation between US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, May 18.

KanyiDaily recalls that during their discussion yesterday, Blinken told Tinubu that the Joe Biden administration is committed to strengthening ties with Nigeria.

Taking to his Twitter page, Obi said the basis of the call is unclear, stressing that the US should wait for the verdict of the presidential election tribunal before knowledging the legitimacy on Tinubu’s victory.

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

He wrote, “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.”

Obi emphasized that the final determination of the election’s true winner should be made by the courts, adding that the judicial issues at hand involve significant violations of both Nigerian electoral law and the constitution.

He wrote, “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.

“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.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Atiku had also questioned Blinken’s decision to contact Tinubu, given US’s well-informed knowledge of the alleged fraudulent election that took place on February 25.