A leader of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has maintained that he would not recognise President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the February 2019 Presidential Election.
Adebanjo, reacting to a call by the National Democratic Front (NDF) that he should be arrested for treason, said he stands by his earlier statement and was ready to be arrested.
The Afenifere leaders had described the 2019 presidential election ‘as a joke’ in an interview, saying he could not recognise Buhari, who was declared the winner of the election, as president-elect.
He said in a statement insisting that he stood by his comment that he would not recognise President Buhari as the winner of the election.
Adebanjo, however, added that he would not be surprised if he was arrested as the Buhari administration was known for its lack of tolerance for the opposition.
“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.
“The constitution provides that if you are not satisfied with the outcome of the election, go to the tribunal and don’t resort to violence.
“It is only when the court decides that he won, that is when I will recognise him.
“If to them, that is an offence, then I am ready to go to prison. By my pronouncement, I have not said anything illegal or unconstitutional.
“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.
“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,” he said.
