The 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has again insisted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did not win the last presidential election.
Datti made the claim on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television.
“I repeat, APC did not win the 2023 election. Labour Party won the election,” he said.
He acknowledged that the courts had given judgment on the matter but maintained that the outcome does not reflect what he believes happened.
“The courts have the power to do all and everything. You don’t have to win elections; the court can say you won and it stays,” he said.
Datti said he still stands by his earlier warning that allowing the election outcome to stand could affect Nigeria’s democracy.
“I told Nigerians that if you allow that election to stay, that would be the end of democracy. I still humbly remain by that,” he said.
He accused the government of failing in key areas, including security and the economy, while focusing more on weakening opposition parties.
“You have a regime whose primary purpose has been the destabilisation of other political parties,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s resources should have been used to improve the lives of citizens rather than being used in political battles.
“At the expense of what they should have done, providing security, improving our economy, they are focused on other things,” he added.
When asked about evidence to support claims that the ruling party is behind crises in opposition parties, Datti said the discussion was not a legal process.
“We are not in a court of law. This is political commentary. Of course, we’ve got evidence,” he said.
He also said the government’s performance in office supports his position.
“They have failed in providing security. They have failed in improving our lives. That is enough,” he said.
Despite the court rulings, Datti said people still have the right to hold their own views about the election outcome.
“You can accept it, but you don’t have to agree with it,” he said.
