The US chapter of the All Progressives Congress wrote to President of the United States, Joe Biden, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kelvin McCarthy, on Monday, urging them to disregard a petition supposedly disparaging the 2023 presidential election.
The request comes just three days after the US administration allowed certain diasporans in the country to use its park on April 3 to protest the outcome of Nigeria's presidential election in 2023.
The permission, obtained by The PUNCH, enables only a hundred demonstrators to congregate at Washington, D.C.'s famed Lafayette Park for four hours.
The permission stated unequivocally that participants must "comply with all of the restrictions of this permit as well as all reasonable directions of the United States Park Police."
The planned demonstration will be led by a diaspora group called the Nigerian American Coalition for Justice and Democracy Inc., which is directed by Franklin Ekechukwu.
In a memo, Ekechukwu stated that the demonstration was their method of denouncing INEC's failure to "follow their standards and rule of law in accordance with democratic values."
But, Prof. Tai Balofin, Chairman of the APC's US chapter, argued that Nigeria's sovereignty has been operating since independence.
The statement read, “We are writing to you regarding a recent petition that has been submitted, calling for the discrediting of the Nigerian presidential election that was deemed free and fair by the Independent National Electoral Commission. As the leader of a country that upholds democratic values, we implore you to disregard the petition.
“The government has faced many challenges threatening the relationship between tribes coloured by religion and politics.
“The coming together of activists against the military intensified the democracy we have untainted since 1999. The great men and women who laid down their lives and resources to make this a reality see Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as an unrepentant front-runner via the NADECO days who fought to make this democracy a reality.â€
Balofin described Tinubu as a master of political draft and chess with gaming mastery of political successes, describing him as a reference point and a grandmaster of strategic transformation to which nation leaders always ran for ideas and turnarounds.
“They have been calling for actions that go against the laid-down processes for addressing disputes and grievances, which is a subversion of the constitution. Their actions and utterances are not only seditious but also pose a threat to the peace and stability of Nigeria. As such, we urge you to condemn such action and make it clear that the British government stands firmly in support of the democratic process in Nigeria.
“Conclusively, we are available to present more evidence to the US Congress. Thank you for your attention to this matter,†he added.