Yoruba Afenifere faults supreme court verdict confirming Tinubu as president

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has faulted the ruling of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

Recall that the Supreme Court, on October 26, struck out the appeals of Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging Tinubu’s election.

The apex court, however, affirmed President Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

It is worth noting that the Adebanjo-led Afenifere supported Obi of the Labour Party to become the President in the 2023 presidential election against Tinubu.

Reacting to the verdict in a communique issued on Tuesday by its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere said it received the apex court’s judgement with dismay following the electoral malpractices that characterised the last election.

The organisation said the electoral reforms achieved through agitations of Nigerians and the billions of naira spent in the conduct of the 2023 elections had been wasted by the apex court’s judgment.

The communique reads: “Afenifere viewed with dismay the recent judgment of the Supreme Court which ratified the brigandage with respect to particularly the Presidential Election.

“Unfortunately, by the Supreme Court decision, the electoral reforms achieved through the agitations of Nigerians for quality control through technological devices and the billions of Naira spent on the infrastructures in that regard is now wasted.”

Afenifere also condemned the rate of insecurity in some parts of the country as a result of the attacks by some armed herdsmen on farmers.

It also noted that the criminal activities of the bandits against farmers raised the need for the creation of state police to enhance proper security at the grassroots level.

It added: “Afenifere observed the alarming resurgence of insecurity occasioned by the activities of armed cattle herders terrorising farmers, killing, maiming the people and raping women for which some of the host communities are no longer comfortable living with the killer guests.

“While Afenifere appreciates the constitutional rights of every Nigerian to live in any part of the country of his/her choice, it is important to stretch and ensure that such citizens live in peace with their hosts and respect their culture and economic prosperity.

“Afenifere reiterates our opposition to open grazing of animals and reaffirms preference for ranching as the world’s best animal husbandry practice.

“No matter is better than now to consider that State Governments be allowed to play greater roles in the security of their states by establishing their internal policing mechanism.”