The Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, has issued a warning to supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu, urging them not to disrupt the proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The warning comes in response to a protest staged by Tinubu’s supporters at the European Union (EU) head office in Abuja following the release of the EU Observer Mission report, which stated that the last presidential election failed the credibility test.
The EU report criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its handling of the election. However, Tinubu’s spokesman Dele Alake, former minister Festus Keyamo, and a one-time aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, who was implicated in the report, rejected its findings. Subsequently, a group of APC supporters went to the EU office in Abuja to demonstrate.
In response, Shaibu stated, “We seize this opportunity to send a warning to the Tinubu government and its minions against disrupting the proceedings of the election tribunal as they have shown a clear disdain for the truth by picketing the EU office.” He further referenced past incidents where protests were orchestrated outside the courthouse during legal proceedings involving Tinubu, suggesting a pattern of attempting to intimidate the judiciary.
Shaibu expressed concern over the presence of security agencies at the EU office during the protest, despite these agencies issuing statements against protests. He cautioned the security agencies to remain vigilant as the tribunal proceedings come to a close, emphasizing that the world is watching.
Shaibu criticized the performance of Tinubu’s administration, asserting that poverty had deepened and inflation had skyrocketed within just 40 days. He attributed these challenges to the unplanned removal of petrol subsidies without accompanying palliatives. Shaibu also accused Tinubu of running a government of hypocrisy, blaming others for the failures of the APC while failing to hold former President Muhammadu Buhari accountable.
Regarding the 2023 presidential election, Shaibu stated that it was one of the worst in Nigeria’s history and criticized Tinubu for rejecting the EU report, thereby ruling out the possibility of electoral reform. He accused Tinubu of lacking statesmanship and mentioned Tinubu’s constant references to the June 12, 1993 election and MKO Abiola, suggesting an inappropriate comparison between the two events.
In conclusion, Shaibu’s statement reflects the tensions between supporters of Atiku Abubakar and the APC, particularly regarding the presidential election and the conduct of the tribunal proceedings.
