The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday asked the United States, the United Kingdom, and the rest of the international community to impose a travel ban on President Muhammadu Buhari and his family members at the expiration of his tenure on May 29.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, who made the call at a media briefing in Abuja, said the president failed in his promise of delivering credible elections to Nigerians.
The major opposition party was reacting to a statement credited to Buhari on the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
The president had on Thursday identified overconfidence as the cause of the PDP-led opposition’s defeat in the election.
President Buhari, who spoke when members of the Progressives Governors Forum visited him at the State House, Abuja, said: “They (the opposition) were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our party blended confidence with caution, we worked hard and won.
“Now, their overconfidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else. They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from the outside why they are unable to beat us.
“A combination of overconfidence, complacency, and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?”
However, the party berated Buhari for “gloating” over the APC’s “reckless rigging” of the election.
Ologunagba said: “We have called you up again today to address the unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice comment credited to the President, Muhammadu Buhari which is already causing apprehension and capable of destroying our corporate existence as a nation.
“As you are aware, the February 25, 2023, presidential election has been adjudged across the nation and globally as the worst in the history of our country.
“The presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2023, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units, the announcement of fabricated figures and climaxed by the vexatious declaration of the defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as winner.
“The general despondency, resentment, and anger across our country; the damning reports by election observers and the pervading international contempt against Nigeria since the declaration of the APC candidate as President-elect are ominous testaments that he does not have the mandate of the majority of Nigerians derivable ONLY from a credible electoral process.”
