The Labour Party (LP) says it was disappointed with the judgement of the Supreme Court which upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

The Labour Party said the judgement of the apex court showed the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature, adding that it has no other choice but to move on.

The LP said this in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Julius Abure, on Thursday, October 26.

Abure stated: “We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex court will toe the line of an earlier judgement in spite of all the flaws associated with the judgement delivered by the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.

“Having conclusively exercised our fundamental rights as gifted to us by the laws of the land, we have no other choice but to move on.

“We may be disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of the exercise but we have chosen to trudge on and to remain optimistic of what the future holds for the nation.

“We weep for our Institutions that cannot rise to the occasion and courageously defend democracy and the voices of our people.

“However, there are great lessons to be learnt. What transpired in Nigeria since the February 25 presidential election is a clear testament that our institutions are not working and that we may be sliding towards dictatorship.

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“It is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature. This is so unfortunate for our democracy and it is even more for the people of Nigeria.

“All what our forbearers taught us has been destroyed within a short space of time because of the Unbridled ambition of a few. The founding fathers fought with their lives to achieve independence for the country.

“People lost their lives for the struggle to keep our democracy and all these years people have been struggling to achieve electoral and constitutional reforms. Regrettably, all of these efforts and struggles have been destroyed today

“It is also pertinent to put on record that we have it on very good authority that the government may have marked some Labour Party’s key leaders, my self especially and our Leader and Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi in particular for vilification, in order to suppress the party, suffocate our team, and our goal of a new Nigeria.

“The planned persecution, intimidation, suppression and harassment of our leaders using security agencies and all other government institutions will be definitely defended.”

The LP chairman, however, urged the party members to “be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead”, saying the “truggle for a New Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard”.

Abure also called on the international community to defend Nigeria’s democracy, adding: “Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the presidential election.

“As we approach the next stage of our democratic journey, we call on you to stand by the millions of Nigerians who are already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury.

“We urge Nigerians not to lose hope in our Country. Though we are paying a huge price to achieve a Nigeria of our desire.

“We are hopeful that we will get to our destination someday because where there is a will, certainly, there will be a way. A new Nigeria is still possible.”

The Star