The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has vowed to follow legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim his mandate as the winner of the Saturday, 25th February Presidential elections.
Obi who made the vow in a Press Briefing on Thursday, rejected the Presidential election results which held the All Progressive Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu the winner, claimed results manipulated.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC results, the LP Presidential Candidate came third with over 6m votes while Tinubu of APC got over 8m votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of People’s Democratic Party who got over 7m votes.
Peter Obi said, “The election has been conducted and results announced as programmed. It is a clear deviation from the electoral rules and guidelines as we were promised.
“And did not meet the minimum criteria of a free, transparent, credible and fair election devoid of voter intimidation and suppression, and late commencement of voting in some specific states.
“This will probably go down as one of the most controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria. The good and hardworking people of Nigeria have again been robbed by the institutions and leaders whom we trusted”, he added.
LP Presidential Candidate humbly and most respectfully appealed to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, law- abiding and conduct themselves in a most responsible manner.
“Please be assured that for Datti and I, and indeed for all of us, this is not the end, but the beginning of the journey to birth a New Nigeria.
“Datti Baba-Ahmed and I remain absolutely undaunted and deeply committed to this project of a New Nigeria that will be built on honesty, transparency, fairness, justice and equity.
“All of these start with the process – the process through which people are elected to office is as important (if not more important) than what they do thereafter with the office and authority”, ex-Governor said.
Peter Obi said, “If we seek to be called Your Excellency, then the process through which we are elected should also be excellent or sufficiently credible to generate the required confidence and moral authority to govern and lead.
“As you all know, the destruction of a society can be a gradual or sudden process through acts such as deliberate refusal to obey the rule of law and via the suppression of the will of the people”.
He reiterated and assured the good people of Nigeria that the Party will follow available legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim its mandate.
Urging all supporters to continue with their campaigns and troop out on Saturday 11th March 2023 to vote massively again for Labour Party, LP, in the Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
“Please do not despair at a time when we can still achieve massive victories in the forthcoming elections on the 11th of March 2023”, Peter Obi added.
He appreciated and also thanked all Nigerians that participated in Saturday’s election, “especially those who believed and tirelessly worked for a New Nigeria and voted for us.
“My profound thanks go to the youths, ‘Obidients’ and support groups for your commitment and resilience for a better Nigeria. You truly showed that you can take back your country”.
Peter Obi prayed for the repose of the souls of all Nigerians killed during the campaigns and for those that were violently attacked.
“We pray for their quick recovery”, while reiterating total condemnation of such attacks and continue to demand that security agencies should stop further attacks and bring perpetrators to book.
“The commitment and resilience of Nigerians, even in the face of unwarranted and barbaric attacks is a testimony that a New Nigeria is indeed Possible.
“The Lady, Jennifer Efidi who was stabbed but insisted on exercising her right to vote and indeed all Nigerians who voted during the election are the shining stars leading us to a New Nigeria”, Obi said.
