October 26, (THEWILL) – The Labour Party (LP) has expressed fears that Nigeria may be sliding towards dictatorship, when institutions fail to rise to the occasion and courageously defend democracy in the country.
National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, expressed the fear at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Abure’s remarks followed the judgment of the Supreme Court, which dismissed the two separate appeals filed by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the LP and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Abure, who expressed shock at the Supreme Court judgement, which upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu, said what transpired in Nigeria since the February 25 presidential election was a testament that “our institutions are not working and that we may be sliding towards dictatorship.
“It is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature. This is so unfortunate for our democracy and it is even more for the people of Nigeria.”
He regretted that efforts and struggles to achieve electoral and constitutional reforms and enthrone democracy in Nigeria have been destroyed by the Supreme Court’s judgement.
The National Chairman also disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government have marked the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for vilification in order to suppress the party.
He, however, assured that “the planned persecution, intimidation, suppression and harassment of the party’s leaders, using security agencies and all other government institutions, would be definitely defended.
“We are, therefore, calling on all our members, and the Obidient family to be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead. The struggle for a new Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard.
“We are also calling on the international community to rise to the occasion to defend democracy in Nigeria.
“Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the presidential election.
“As we approach the next stage of our democratic journey, we call on you to stand by the millions of Nigerians who are already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury.”
