LP Speaks On Pressure On Military To Compromise Elections

The Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has charged the Nigerian military to remain apolitical and neutral during and after the 2023 elections.

The LP Campaign Council was reacting to a statement by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, that the military is under pressure to compromise the forthcoming elections.

In response to the comment, the Chief Spokesperson of the LP PCC, Tanko Yunusa, said the party had confidence in several assurances given by President Muhammadu Buhari that all candidates will be treated equally.

Speaking with Vanguard on Thursday, Yunusa said the LP believes that the military will be professional during the election and are willing to uphold their oath to the service to the nation.

Tanko said, “We have always believed in the assurances given by President Muhammadu Buhari that his administration will give all contestants a level playing field before, during, and after the 2023 general elections.

“We believe that our military is now populated by professionals who know their responsibility and are willing to uphold their oath to the service of our motherland and that they will not bow to the pressures of those who hate this country to do anything untoward to truncate our march towards building a more stable and peaceful nation.”

Speaking further, Tanko appealed to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its flagbearer, Bols Tinubu, to stop making inciting comments and violent rhetoric during their rallies.

He said: “We are also not unaware of comments and actions of the Presidential candidate of the ruling party.

“It is in this light we wish to appeal to the ruling party and its candidate not to push Nigerians to the wall by the use of violent rhetoric and incitement such as the one used by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu in London.

“He was seen and heard on video encouraging his supporters to ‘grab power and run with it, this is not only inciting but an invitation to chaos.”