ELECTION TRIBUNAL: LP Presidential Candidate, Obi Brings U.S. Govt Into Suit Challenging Tinubu’s Victory

By Simeon OSAJIE

Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the February 25 Presidential Election, Mr. Peter Obi has officially dragged the All Progressives Congress’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Election Tribunal challenging his victory at the polls.

You would recall that Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been announced as the winner of the Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), after he pulled over 8 Million votes across the nation. Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi would come 2nd and 3rd respectively with Atiku polling almost 7 Million votes while Obi got over 6 Million votes.

Peter Obi had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court seeking an order to inspect the Election materials used during the Presidential Election as he sought to challenge the validity of the 2023 Presidential election. Many Nigerians were off the opinion that Peter Obi would be focusing his suit on the inspection of the BVAS and IREVS but the former Anambra state Governor stunned Bola Tinubu (Jagaban of Lagos) with the prayers in his constitution.

Peter Obi would challenge Tinubu’s candidacy in the Presidential Election stating that former Lagos State Governor already had been convicted in the United States of America of a criminal offence and thus ought not to have been eligible as a candidate for the 2023 Presidential election.

The prayer read that, “The Petitioners further plead that the 2nd Respondent was also at the time of the election not qualified to contest for election to the office of President as he was fined the sum of $460, 000. 00 (FourHundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars) for an offence involving dishonesty, namely narcotics trafficking imposed by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in Case No: 93C 4483…” See the prayer below;

OBIdients across popular social media platform, Twitter would heap praise on their Principal with many stating that Peter Obi’s move was unexpected as he had now involved the United States Government in the suit against Bola Tinubu and with the matter being narcotics and forfeiture, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and even the Internal Revenue service (IRS) will also be involved.

One person wrote that, “I think Obi is making a smart gamble here. If the President of Nigeria is on trial for being a narco, the US DEA would have to give testimony in court, to substantiate the claims. This can attract a lot of press to this and lead to international pressure on the Supreme Court to do the right thing. If the US testifies against Tinubu and declares him a former narco, the Supreme Court has no other option but to nullify his candidacy.”

Another person added that,  “It’s not just the DEA that have a case with him. IRS, FBI would also be involved. Deloitte would also have to give their testimony. University would also be summoned to testify.”

While a third stated that, “The entire legal team of Tinubu was expecting Obi s case to be built on Irev/BVAS and electoral manipulation only until Peter Obi went to dig out what they thought is long forgotten. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the latest reality show in town themed: INSIDE THE TRIBUNAL.”