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  After the conclusion of Nigeria’s presidential election on February 25, 2023, which saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu declared the winner despite alleged irregularities, the Labour Party’s flagbearer, Peter Obi, has finally spoken out. Obi claims that his party was the true winner of the election and he will use all legal means available to him to regain his mandate. He expressed his disappointment in the election process and deemed it unfair, which he did during a press conference held in Abuja, his first media appearance since the announcement of the winner by the electoral commission. The specific legal actions Obi intends to take are yet to be revealed.
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A new Nigeria is possible, and I will work for that new Nigeria… Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria.
At the beginning of the press conference, Peter Obi observed a moment of silence for all those who were injured or died during the February 25 election. The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, and the director general of Obi’s presidential campaign, Akin Osuntokun, were also present at the briefing. Obi emphasized his and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed’s, commitment to a better Nigeria. He expressed his gratitude to his young supporters, called the “Obidients,” and encouraged them not to be discouraged by the election’s outcome. “We will work for that new Nigeria that is possible,” he said. “Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria.” It is my belief that for you to answer “you excellency”, the process through which you arrive to office must be “excellent”. Peter Obi promised the youth of Nigeria that he will not disappear but instead will continue to strive for a better Nigeria. As a former governor of Anambra State, Obi acknowledged that the system responsible for causing 133 million people to live in multidimensional poverty cannot be changed overnight. “We will walk through darkness until daybreak,” he said.
That structure of criminality can’t go away overnight, the structure of destruction can’t go away overnight, the structure that has created one hundred & thirty-three billion people living in multidimensional poverty can’t go away overnight…
 
We have been asked to go to the courts; let’s go there. Remember that I am obedient, I am going to go where I am directed to go
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.
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Obi lamented that Nigeria cannot conduct elections 63 years after independence. Obi’s Full Speech: Address to the Nation Dear Nigerians,
  1. On 25th February 2023, Nigerians trooped out en-masse to participate in what was promised and expected to be a free, fair and transparent Presidential and National Assembly elections. But in all things, we are enjoined to give thanks.
  2. First to Almighty God for the privilege of making Datti Baba-Ahmed and I, the tools to champion the cause of a New Nigeria that will fundamentally enhance the fortunes of our dear country. Let me also appreciate and thank all Nigerians that participated in our last 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!
  3. We continue to pray 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. We reiterate our total condemnation of such attacks and continue to demand that security agencies stop further attacks and bring perpetrators to book.
  4. 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 shinning stars leading us to a New Nigeria!
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. However, let me humbly and most respectfully appeal 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.
  8. 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 starts 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Let me reiterate and assure my good people of Nigeria that we will follow all available legal and peaceful procedures to reclaim our mandate.
  11. I urge you all to continue with your campaigns and troop out on Saturday 11th March 2023 to vote massively again for Labour Party-LP (Mama, Papa and Pikin) 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 March 2023.
Thank you all and God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria. Featured Image Source: Premium Times NG
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This article was first published on 3rd March 2023

nnaemeka-emmanuel

Nnaemeka is an academic scholar with a degree in History and International Studies from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is also a creative writer, content creator, storyteller, and social analyst.

Comments (3)

3 thoughts on “Peter Obi Finally Speaks on 2023 Presidential Election”

  • Abiola Akin

    Let’s hope he gets his mandate in the courts.

    Nigeria’s electoral commission put a country of 200 million to shame in the last presidential election.

    Reply
  • amreen

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  • flagle

    Thank you for your article, hope you make more articles on similar topics flagle

    Reply

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