Labour Party's Quest for Electoral Justice: Baba-Ahmed's Reflections on Supreme Court Battle and Party's Resilience
By Wisdom Tide
September 19, 2024
In a recent interview, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria's 2023 general elections, provided an in-depth analysis of the party’s post-election journey and its determination to claim its electoral mandate. Despite the obstacles faced during the election process and subsequent legal battles, Baba-Ahmed conveyed optimism about the party’s future, dismissing suggestions of internal crisis while asserting that LP's political momentum remains unshaken.
Addressing Claims of Party Crisis: "It Was a Transition, Not a Crisis"
Contrary to claims suggesting instability within the Labour Party following the election, Baba-Ahmed made it clear that the situation was more of a transitional challenge rather than a deep-rooted crisis. He described the process as "a bit bumpy," but insisted that the party had successfully navigated through the situation.
“We didn’t have a crisis. We managed a transition which was a bit bumpy, and that was it,” Baba-Ahmed stated confidently, stressing that the party’s leadership and members were able to manage this phase effectively. He went further to commend the Labour Party for its resilience, adding that no other political party of similar size could have weathered such a storm as smoothly as they did.
This outlook highlights the confidence Baba-Ahmed and the party leadership have in their ability to unite the party and push forward, despite the growing challenges they faced after the elections.
Electoral Battle at the Supreme Court: "We Claimed 10 Million Votes, They Gave Us 6 Million"
One of the key issues Baba-Ahmed discussed was the Labour Party’s relentless pursuit of electoral justice following the 2023 election. He highlighted the party’s effort to challenge the results of the presidential election, expressing disappointment that the Supreme Court acknowledged only part of their claims.
“We are the political party who went all the way to the Supreme Court claiming our 10 million votes. They were only able to give us 6 million votes,” Baba-Ahmed stated. His remarks underscore the Labour Party's belief that they had won substantial support from the Nigerian electorate—10 million votes in total—but were only credited with six million by the legal system.
Despite this outcome, Baba-Ahmed’s tone remained optimistic, portraying the party’s journey through the court system as a testament to its commitment to ensuring that every vote cast for the Labour Party was accounted for.
Labour Party's Remarkable Rise: "A Force to Contend with in Africa"
Baba-Ahmed also emphasized the Labour Party’s extraordinary rise to prominence, which he referred to as an unprecedented development in African political history. He noted that while other political parties such as the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had the advantage of military support during their formative years, the Labour Party had nothing but popular grassroots support.
“We are a force to contend with in Africa. What we’ve done has never been done before,” he said. “When PDP came, they had the military. We had nothing.” This comparison between the Labour Party and more established political organizations was intended to highlight how LP managed to capture the hearts of many Nigerians without the backing of powerful institutions or vested interests.
The rapid rise of the Labour Party was, according to Baba-Ahmed, fueled by the genuine passion and support of ordinary Nigerians. “It was organic, it was us, it was Nigerian people. It was the Obidients,” he added, referring to the enthusiastic support base that the party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, garnered during the election campaign.
Labour Party's Electoral Success: "We Defeated Two Major Parties"
Perhaps the most significant achievement of the Labour Party, as underscored by Baba-Ahmed, was the fact that the party succeeded in disrupting the dominance of Nigeria's two major political parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP—during the election.
“We defeated two existing political parties to the best of our submission in the courts,” he remarked. Despite the outcome of the legal challenges, Baba-Ahmed remains adamant that the Labour Party outperformed both of the established political behemoths during the election, a claim that reflects the party’s belief that they were shortchanged in the final electoral tally.
A Path Forward for Labour Party
Baba-Ahmed’s reflections on the Labour Party’s recent experiences offer insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the party. He firmly believes that the LP remains a powerful and viable political force capable of reshaping Nigerian politics, notwithstanding the hurdles they have faced.
By emphasizing the party’s grassroots origins, electoral success, and resilience in the face of legal setbacks, Baba-Ahmed is laying the groundwork for a continued political battle, one aimed at consolidating their support and building a stronger presence on the national stage.
In conclusion, Baba-Ahmed’s remarks reveal a Labour Party that remains undeterred by its electoral and legal battles. With a growing support base and a proven capacity to compete with Nigeria’s largest political parties, the Labour Party appears poised to continue its upward trajectory in the country’s political landscape. The party’s journey, as Baba-Ahmed suggests, is far from over
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