The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party has publicly distanced itself from the calls for an interim government and the agitations that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, should not be sworn in on May 29, pending the determination of the petitions before the Presidential Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja. This announcement was made in a statement issued by the faction’s spokesperson, Abayomi Arabambi, and made available to Vanguard in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
According to the statement, the faction of the party noted that the swearing-in of Tinubu “may not have any impact on the ongoing legal tussle on the presidential election involving our party, APC and INEC.” Arabambi went on to assert that the Electoral Act and the Constitution of Nigeria did not allow for a vacuum, adding that “whether the President-elect is sworn in or not, there is [a] right to remove him legally if it is found out that he was not duly elected.”
Arabambi further recalled how the Court had removed Chris Ngige and confirmed Peter Obi as the Governor of Anambra State in 2003. He cited sections 136 and 146 of the Nigerian Constitution, stating that only death or permanent incapacity can stop a president-elect from being sworn in. While also mentioning that “what Peter Obi is crying for is not supported by the law,” Arabambi noted that “a refusal to swear-in Tinubu as President on May 29, will create a vacuum in the system, saying the law does not allow this.”
He stressed that the law does not provide for an interim president in this circumstance, adding that “even Peter Obi once benefitted from the system of being sworn into office despite pending petitions filed against him before the tribunal by Andy Uba.” Arabambi stated that the LP would continue to pursue its case in court and warned against any unlawful means of agitations or change of government violently.
In conclusion, the statement made it clear that the Labour Party is not in support of any calls for an interim government and that only death or permanent incapacity can stop a president-elect from being sworn in. Vanguard reported the statement in detail, making it clear that the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party is not in agreement with those who seek to prevent Tinubu’s swearing-in on May 29.
