TheCable

Some Nigerians in the US have reportedly secured a permit to protest against the election victory of President-elect Bola Tinubu.

The protest is said to be billed for April 3.

In a statement on Thursday, Tai Balofin, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the US, said Nigerians should not be disturbed by the planned protest.

Balofin said the US government is not in support of the protest and that anyone could secure permission to stage a demonstration.

“It is important to note that the US government is not involved or in support of the protest, as anybody can get approval for a peaceful protest,” NAN quoted the US APC chairman as saying.

“It is our belief that the Nigerian presidential election was free and fair, and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu won the election. The majority of Nigerian voters gave him their mandate, and no propaganda, manipulation or tissue of lies can stop his inauguration.

“We want to assure Nigerians that Nigeria will not secede, and it will remain united, we must work together to salvage it.”

He alleged that Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), is behind the planned protest.

“We also wish to state that this protest was sponsored by Peter Obi, who lost the election in Nigeria,” he said.

Yunusa Tanko, the LP spokesperson, could not be reached for comment on the allegation that Obi orchestrated the protest.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Tinubu the winner of the presidential election after securing 8,794,726 votes.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the second-highest figure with 6,984,520 votes while Obi was next with 6,101,533 votes.

Abubakar and Obi are currently before the presidential election tribunal challenging the victory of Tinubu.