Threats of Trouble by Asari Dokubo’s Supporters If Tribunal Sacks Tinubu.
Asari Dokubo’s supporters have issued a threat, stating that they will cause trouble if the presidential election petition tribunal decides to remove President Bola Tinubu from office. The group, comprised of youths dressed in black and red attire bearing the ex-militant’s name, gathered at the court complex, holding placards, singing, and dancing in support of Mr. Tinubu.
In an interview with The Gazette, one of the protesters, Ogele Commander, urged the tribunal to exercise wisdom and avoid sacking Mr. Tinubu. He emphasized the importance of not dividing Nigeria and called on others to wait for their turn in office.
However, when asked about the group’s potential actions if the tribunal rules against the incumbent president, Mr. Commander warned, “That’s their longer throat. They want to divide Nigeria. We want them to use their office to create peace. If they say they will cause problems, we will give them problems.” He further added, “If they don’t want peace for Tinubu to rule, we’ll give them what they want.”
Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant and ally of Mr. Tinubu, has led this group to the tribunal on multiple occasions to show solidarity with the President. The tribunal had previously set September 6 for the ruling on petitions challenging Mr. Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party both contest the legitimacy of Mr. Tinubu’s victory, claiming they are the rightful winners of the election. INEC declared Mr. Tinubu the winner on March 1, citing his victory at the polls.
The opposition candidates have raised various grounds for their challenge, including Mr. Tinubu’s failure to secure 25 percent of the vote in the Federal Capital Territory and his past association with money linked to drug trafficking, among other issues. These threats of potential unrest underscore the tension and anticipation surrounding the tribunal’s ruling.
