The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has disagreed with the United States of America chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over sponsors of a protest against the outcome of the 2023 presidential poll at the Park opposite the US White House.
The USA APC Chairman, Professor Tai Balofin accused the LP flag bearer of sponsoring the protest against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who according to him won the free and fair election.
He went on to warn that the United States is not in any way supporting the protest as anyone can get approval for a peaceful protest.
Balofin said: “We wish to inform the public that a group of the Nigerian 2023 Presidential election losers are currently protesting at the park in front of the White House. It is important to note that the US government is not involved or in support of the protest as anybody can get approval for a peaceful protest.
“We also wish to state that this protest was sponsored by Peter Obi, who lost the election in Nigeria. It is our belief that Nigeria’s presidential election was free and fair, and Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu won the election.
“Majority of Nigerian voters gave him their mandate, and no propaganda, manipulation or tissue of lies can stop his inauguration.”
Reacting to the allegations, Obi via a statement by his campaign spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko, stated that he is in no way connected to the protest, adding that he has urged his supporters to remain calm while he reclaims his mandate through court process.
Speaking to Vanguard on the phone, Yunusa said, “There is no presidential candidate that has been in full control and admonishing his supporters to be calm than Obi and Datti. The only thing is we are not satisfied with the process that led to the declaration of Tinubu as president-elect.
“We have raised fundamental issues about the process and the process is part of the democratic process. Obi has not sponsored anybody to do anything, rather he has urged them to be calm and follow the rule of law. However, if Nigerian people are protesting the injury done to them, they have the right. Nobody is sponsoring anybody.”