Coup d'etat not solution to disputed elections, Keyamo warns proponents of same action in Nigeria

Spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential campaign council at the 2023 presidential election, Festus Keyamo, has warned that coup d’etat is not the solution to disputed sections.

Issuing this warning in the wake of the recent coup that occurred in Niger, Keyamo advised those seeking a coup to seek redress through constitutional means to desist from doing that.

“The earlier we realise that a coup d’etat is not a solution to disputed elections in Africa, the better for us. Almost all elections in Africa have always been disputed anyway. Whilst there are constitutional means to seek redress in a disputed election, there is no means to seek redress for a coup, because even the Constitution itself would be suspended when a coup happens,” Keyamo warned.

“We must learn to subject ourselves to the constitutional order of addressing disputed elections and election grievances, even when our faith in some institutions are shaky. Our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, as Opposition leader, demonstrated this fine democratic attribute of fighting electoral injustice through constitutional means and not by supporting or calling for coups; and he succeeded at the end. The Opposition should be humble enough to learn from him,” he added.

His comment comes as supporters of opposition parties continue to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the 2023 presidential election. The European Union had earlier released a report that faulted the conduct of INEC, the ruling party and politicians at the 2023 presidential election. However, while a petition against the emergence of President Bola Tinubu is being disputed at the Election Petition Tribunal, there are suggestions that uproar might emerge whatever direction the judiciary decides.