Victor EzejaCandidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has rejected the outcome of the 25th February election which produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as president.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Obi who has been quiet since the declaration of Tinubu as president, said he won the election and would prove it through a legitimate process.
He urged his supporters to remain calm and hopeful.
“I have just finished addressing an international press conference. I urge Nigerians to remain resolute.
“We won this election and we will prove it to Nigerians. We shall reclaim our mandate via due process. Please do not despair!” Obi tweeted on Thursday afternoon.
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Recall that the LP’s vice presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Wednesday hinted that the party would go to court to challenge the outcome of the Saturday’s presidential poll.
Obi said that achieving a new Nigeria is possible.
He said there was a clear violation of the electoral process as stipulated by the constitution, the Electoral Act and the Electoral guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, hence the need to challenge the outcome in court of law for the sake of posterity.
He thanked his supporters known as Obi-dients for their hard work and resilience, urging them not to lose hope. He said that looking at how people trooped out on the election day to vote and have a change in governance for good, he is encouraged to believe that a new Nigeria is possible.
He said: “The election that we just witnessed has been conducted and result announced as programmed. It is a clear deviation from the electoral rules and guidelines as we were promised. This election as you know, did not meet the minimum standard expected of a free, transparent, credible, fair election. It would go down as one of the most controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria. The good and hard working people of Nigeria have again been robbed by our suppose leaders,” Obi stated.
He however, appealed to all Nigerians, especially his supporters, “to remain calm, peaceful and conduct themselves in most responsible manner” assuring them that “this is not the end but the beginning of the journey for the birth of a new Nigeria.”
He said that he and his running mate, Datti, remain undaunted in their commitment to the project of a new Nigeria that would promote honesty, transparency fairness, justice, equity.
He stressed that the process through which one comes into office is more fundamental that what they do thereafter.
“If you must be answer ‘His Excellency’ then the process through which you arrive at the office must be excellent.”
He added that leaders are required to do the right things in order to generate the required confidence and moral authority to lead.
He urged the supporters not to despair but continue working for the success of the party in March 11 Governorship and State Assembly elections.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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