Izuchukwu Okosi
The standard bearer of the Labour Party in the February 25 Presidential election, Peter Obi on Monday, reiterated his belief that the polls were marred with irregularities as he challenges the transparency of the conduct of the elections.
Obi was a guest of Arise TV as he spoke on a wide range of issues regarding the election that was observed by the international community.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“My first thing is that I want to thank God Almighty for keeping Nigeria, protecting it and blessing it.
“And thanking the good people of Nigeria for their interest and participation in trying to build a new Nigeria.
The journey has been very tough but that is what is expected because you are trying to change what is there that has kept us where we are.
“If you look at the last election (February 25), it’s probably the worst election in Nigeria’s history considering the 2022 Electoral Law which was meant to improve our overall electoral process.
Obi insisted that the INEC chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu made a pledge to the nation based on the electoral act of 2022 which he failed to keep.
“And the continued, consistent promises of the INEC Chairman that this was going to be the thing to ever happen to Nigeria – and you could see in all the editorials of international newspapers – The Financial Times, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, including the Chatham House where the INEC Chairman was himself.
Obi also reacted to the comment made by human rights activist, Reno Omokri that the former Anambra state Governor contrary to popular belief, also rigged the elections.
“I have never asked anybody to add one vote for me that doesn’t belong to me, I have never paid anyone to rig the election for me.
“Go all over Nigeria and ask anyone in INEC, the so-called C.O, resident commissioners whether any of them have been made by Peter Obi to do this, never, they are referees and it’s their job to do their job.
The Labour Party flagbearer also took swipe at the insinuations from opposition parties that his participation in the elections helped All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was declared President-elect, win the election.
The one-time Vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when Atiku Abubakar contested for the nation’s number one position in 2011 was responding directly to the comments made by Minister of Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.
“I did not contest the election to help anybody to win; to win is to win the people. Democracy is the government for the people, and if you have not won the people it means you have not won, and this is what we are challenging because the declared winner did not win.”
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
