UPDATED: Peter Obi Heads to Court, Says He Won Presidential Poll|Omohglobalnews

Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi has vowed to challenge the outcome of Saturday’s election in court. 

Obi said he would not be pressured by anybody to abandon his quest to seek redress in court. 

The former Anambra Governor said the exercise did not meet the criteria for a free and credible election.

He called on Nigerians and his supporters to be law abiding and not to instigate violence.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was declared winner of the election by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmood Yakubu. 

Tinubu polled 8.8 million votes to defeat his closest rivals – Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Obi of LP and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Atiku polled 6,984,520; Obi garnered 6,101,533 votes while Kwankwaso polled 1,476,697.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, an emotional Obi assured his supporters that he would reclaim his mandate.

The LP candidate said the 2023 presidential election would go down as the most controversial in the history of Nigeria.

The LP candidate, who was making his first public appearance since the February 25 elections, insisted that the exercise failed to meet the minimum standard of a free and fair election, hence he will approach the court to reclaim his mandate.

He also berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting the “worst elections in Nigeria’s history” which he said fell below the minimum standards.

He also said he believed in the judiciary to do justice, saying he was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the judiciary having been there severally to reclaim his stolen mandates in the past and won all.

He also said the meeting with the PDP and other parties was not a merger but an exchange of ideas on a way forward in national interest.

Obi said: “We won the election. We will explore all legal action to reclaim our mandate. Nigeria cannot conduct an election 63 years after independence and it will be like this.

“I have never directly or indirectly spoken or released any message since after voting last Saturday. Anything you see in the media, disregard it. This is my first time speaking.

“For me, it is very important to speak to Nigerians who on the 25 of February as committed citizens for a supposedly free and fair national election.

“It is a clear violation of the electoral rule and guidelines that we were assured of.

“It will go down as the most controversial election ever conducted in Nigeria. Let me appeal to all Nigerians to remain peaceful and humble. I assure you that this is not the end, but the beginning of a journey for a better and a new Nigeria.

“We want a New Nigeria built on honesty, fairness and justice. We will do the right thing to gather confidence to lead. Leaders should not act rascally and deliberately discard the rule of law.

“We insisted that we will be governed by the rule of law. We will explore all legal action to reclaim our mandate. We won the election. We will build a country.

“Myself and Datti are committed to a new Nigeria. I don’t know how they feel now, but the unwanted attacks showed that a new Nigeria was possible. seeing Jenifer who was attacked but ensured she voted.”

The LP candidate said he was not in alliance with any political party.

“We are not in talk with other parties, we are meeting as aggrieved parties. If we use the process we used today in the election, how are we going to arrest the kidnappers? On this issue, I am challenging the process,” Obi added.

He has called on Nigerians to come out to vote for the Labour Party in the March 11, Governorship and State House of Assembly elections across the country.

“I enjoin you to campaign and bring out people to vote. We still have so many massive contestants in our sub-nationals. I assure you that I will be part of it. We will build a country,” he said. 

Obi observed a minute of silence for those who lost their lives during the election, and prayed that God will continue to bless and protect the country.

“But in all things, we give thanks to God first. Second, I give gratitude to Nigerians that participated in the election. Number three, gratitude to Nigerians especially the youth that believed and worked tirelessly for a new Nigeria. I thank them for the hard work. Gratitude to all ‘Obedients’ who believe a new Nigeria is possible and I am assuring you that a new Nigeria is possible.