As Nigerians prepared to go into the poll on Saturday, to elect their preferred candidate for President and the representatives for the national assembly, the Action Alliance has declared its interest in boycotting the coming presidential and National Assembly elections, scheduled to hold on Saturday February 25, 2023.
This was contained in a statement issued by the National chairman of the party, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, on Thursday February 23, 2023.
It was revealed in the statement, that the decision was made, due to how the Independent National Electoral Commission, exclude the party from the election.
Omoaje revealed that, despite various court judgements obtained from different courts, including the Court of Appeal, compelling INEC to present the names of candidates, the party submitted for the elections, INEC failed to recognize all the candidates submitted.
However, the Chairman stated that, all the stakeholders in party , across all the states of the federation, had met and had a resolution to boycott the election so as to protest against INEC ‘s flagrant disobedience to court orders, and lack of regards for the judiciary.
While blaming Prof Mahmood Yakubu led INEC for plotting to truncate the nation’s democracy through a lack of regard for the rule of law, Omoaje said the actions of the INEC chairman has shown nothing but pointing to the fact that our democracy is in danger in Nigeria.
While expressing his displeasure over the decision of the INEC, the Chairman threatened that the party will approach the Elections Petition Tribunal to challenge its exclusion from the elections.
The Chairman, who alledged INEC of being used by the politicians, noted that the development is unwarranted in our polity and described it as very unhealthy in the history of elections in the country.
The Chairman, who warned the electoral body against the action that could deny the electorates their constitutional rights and undermining democracy, also noted that the party will make us of all legal means to challenge the electoral body in the law court.
The party therefore called on the affected members and the party faithfuls not to participate in Saturday’s election in the interest of fairness and justice, and there expressing optimism that the part will get justice at the tribunal.
