By Tambaya Julius
The season of election tribunal judgments has dawned, and as expected by rational observers of our electoral landscape, the judiciary has once again upheld its reputation as the impartial guardian of democracy.
Across the nation, what we’ve witnessed is a reaffirmation that democracy and politics are governed by established rules and interpretations.
In this realm, everyone stands as equals, bound by regulations that prohibit the propagation of false narratives, emotional outbursts, and unfounded propaganda.
The pronouncements of the justices of PEP (Presidential Election Petition) have reaffirmed this truth.
The non-acceptance of the tribunal’s rulings by the losing parties and their candidates is a secondary concern.
It’s understandable that parties and candidates who approach the tribunal with legal irrelevancies, believing the elections were rigged, may struggle to acknowledge unfavorable judgments.
It’s no surprise that both the Labour Party (LP) and the PDP flag bearers have found faults in the verdicts.
To avoid preemption of the tribunal’s judgment, I refrained from publishing this piece until now when it’s suitable for public consumption.
Reflecting on the 2023 General Election, it’s disheartening that some political parties and candidates resorted to fabricating falsehoods to maintain their support base while contesting the presidential election at the tribunal.
The grounds upon which both the PDP and LP candidates, who secured the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, contested the presidential election outcome seem far-fetched and unfounded.
Nigeria stands on a delicate precipice, and the actions of the major opposition parties indicate a disregard for the potential consequences of their actions on the nation’s unity.
The events leading up to the election and its aftermath, including divisive campaigns and disturbances, echo the ENDSARS protests, raising suspicions of orchestrated efforts to disrupt the 2023 elections.
The opposition and their allies appear to be gearing up for a rebellion following an expected loss at the tribunal.
This orchestrated plan involves inciting public protests and possibly seeking military intervention to topple the government.
These actions contradict their previous advocacy for democracy, revealing a concerning willingness to sacrifice the nation’s stability for political gain.
In March 2023, Nigeria witnessed a remarkable presidential election, characterized by unprecedented upsets.
The ruling APC lost in its strongholds, including Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, and the home state of the former President.
Even sitting governors faced defeat by relatively unknown candidates. These upsets, however, occurred across the nation.
Yet, the opposition, particularly LP supporters, cry foul, alleging election rigging. One must question the logic of rigging in states where the ruling party lost.
APC’s losses in critical areas put to rest claims of election rigging, especially among rational thinkers.
After the polls, a surprising alliance formed among divided parties, attempting to halt the election process.
Their reasons? Allegations of APC rigging and manipulation, despite their own victories.
APC won 12 states, PDP won 12 states, and LP also won 12 states, yet claims of APC rigging persisted, exposing hypocrisy and poor sportsmanship.
The losses turned out to be a blessing for the ruling party, debunking election rigging conspiracy theories.
The opposition parties could not contest the election figures effectively.
They failed to present evidence despite having polling agents and Form EC 8 records at their disposal.
Their attempts to influence the tribunal through social media pressure threaten democracy.
The opposition alleged that the President did not attend Chicago State University, claimed drug-related convictions in the USA, and questioned the vice president’s nomination.
Despite evidence to the contrary, they persisted with false narratives.
It’s crucial to learn from the consequences of promoting false claims, as seen in Donald Trump’s 2020 election rigging allegations.
Let’s continue to watch as the appeal process unfolds.
God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
