Peter Obi
2023 elections: Obi breaks silence, says ‘we won and will explore all legal means to reclaim our mandate’
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) general elections in the just-concluded 2023 election , Peter Obi , has broken his silence since after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the president-elect, saying that he won the poll and he will explore all legal options to reclaim his mandate.
Obi said the result of the election was programmed and announced in a clear violation of electoral rules and guidelines, as promised, adding that it would go down as one of the most controversial elections in the history of Nigeria.
“We will explore all legal and peaceful option to reclaim our mandate. We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians,” Obi said at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
“I am challenging the process,” Obi declared to a room full of journalists at Nigeria’s capital city, his first media appearance after the declaration of a winner by the electoral umpire.
“This is very unfair. It is the least expected of Nigeria,” he said.
Just at the commencement of the briefing, Obi observed a one-minute silence for all injured and deceased victims of the February 25 poll.
Also in attendance at the briefing is the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure; as well as the director general of Obi’s presidential campaign, Akin Osuntokun.
He also said himself and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed remain committed to a new Nigeria.
He effusively thanked his youthful followers known as ‘Obidients’, urging them not to be deterred by the outcome of the polls.
“We will work for that new Nigeria that is possible,” he said. “Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria.”
Obi assured youths in the country that he is not going away but will stay and work for a new Nigeria.
He said the poll did not meet the minimum standard for a free and fair election, adding that the poll will go down as the most controversial election conducted in Nigeria.
Obi lamented that Nigeria cannot conduct election 63 years after independence.
