Reuben Fasoranti, leader of Yoruba Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has said that the group would not support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration beyond May 29, because the administration would lack legitimacy.
President Buhari’s first tenure ends on May 29, but he was declared winner of the recent Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Following the victory, he is going in for a second term of four years in office.
According to the INEC, Buhari polled a total of 15,191,847 (56percent) votes, winning in 19 of the states while Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), got 11,262,978 (41percent) of votes and won 17 states and Abuja.
However, Atiku, the PDP, and several other groups have disputed the result of the presidential election. Atiku is challenging the election at the tribunal, alleging that he won but that the result was manipulated in favour of Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay, Tuesday, ahead of Buhari’s May 29 inauguration for a second term in office, Fasoranti said that the group was not happy with the manner INEC conducted the February 26th presidential election, stressing that the region would withdraw its support for the President’s administration after his first tenure.
“We would not support him beyond May 29; we would not recognise him, the presidential election was flawed and as you know, that was not an election,” Fasoranti said.
On the contention over who become the next Senate president and speaker, House of Representatives, the Afenifere leader, called for an amicable resolution of the Senate leadership tussle between the leadership of the APC, stressing that the interest of the nation must be paramount.
“Whoever emerges the Senate President and Speaker in the National Assembly is left for APC leadership to decide; but this current disagreement must not be allowed to degenerate by the party leadership; the nation interest is paramount”, Fasoranti added.
Iniobong Iwok
