Adebanjo,has said he has President Mohammadu Buhari is not President of
Nigeria but a President declared by the Independent national Electoral
Commission, INEC.
Adebanjo said Afenifere has evidence that Nigeria’s President Buhari
rigged his re-election in February.
“I maintain my stand that until the Supreme Court rules that he is
validly elected, I will not recognise him. We have evidence that the
election was rigged, let the court decide otherwise. That is all I am
saying,” Adebanjo said in reaction to the call for his arrest for
treason by National Democratic Front (NDF).
Adebanjo had, in February, described the 2019 presidential election ‘as
a joke’. He insisted he will not recognise Buhari, who was declared the
winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), as president.
“Right now, Buhari is the president declared by INEC and not the person
that won the election, and the constitution says if you are not
satisfied by that declaration, go to the tribunal,” Adebanjo said.
The Adebanjo-led faction of Afenifere did not support Buhari’s election
for the second term during the campaigns. Instead, his Afenifere group
endorsed Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party
(PDP) to unseat Buhari after the election.
But Buhari was declared the winner of the election. He polled 15, 191,
847 votes while Abubakar, a former Nigerian vice president between 1999
and 2007, got 11, 262, 978 votes.
Unsatisfied with the election result, Atiku, who alleged the election
was rigged is currently challenging the presidential election result at
the Election Tribunal.
While the tribunal is still hearing the case, Adebanjo said Buhari would
only be clear of the election rigging allegations if he is declared as
the winner by the Supreme Court.
“I will only recognise him if the court rules that he is the rightful
winner. That is my position and if it is an offence to follow what the
constitution says, then I am ready to go to prison,” Adebanjo said.
Adebanjo believes his utterance is not a treasonable offence. “By my
pronouncement, I have not said anything illegal or unconstitutional.”