The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has expressed worry over what he described as the suppression of citizens who were protesting, demanding electoral transparency and accountability.
Obi, in a post on his X account Tuesday in response to a once-peaceful protest at the National Assembly by some youths—which turned chaotic after officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) fired tear gas canisters at the protesters, as seen in some of the videos posted on the microblogging platform X and monitored by news.ng—described the development as an assault on democracy.
“Today, in our beloved country, Nigeria, harmless citizens performing their constitutionally guaranteed duties peacefully were tear-gassed simply for asking for what is right: free, fair, and credible elections in a democratic nation. Those who yesterday claimed to be champions of democracy have today become destroyers of our democracy and the worst enemies of good governance,” Obi stated.
He added that the actions by the security operatives show total disregard for the protesters’ lawfully demanding a transformative change in the country’s electoral process.
While both members of the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives are yet to harmonise the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as expected today, Obi called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in ensuring that the country’s democratic principles are defended.
He stressed that credible elections are one of the pillars of national stability and sustainable development.
“I urge Nigerians, en masse, to resist these continued evil plans, to stand united against the destruction of our nation and collective future, and to ensure that free and fair elections are firmly established for the sake of our future.
“We insist that there must be real-time mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results to ensure transparency and trust in our elections.
“May God grant us the strength to build a better country, founded on free, fair, and credible elections, justice, and good governance, for the future of our dear nation,” he concluded.
