Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, rejected the results of the presidential election on Saturday and promised to challenge them in court.
On Wednesday, the All Progressives Congress’ Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was declared the winner and elected president by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
Atiku concurred, stating that “the processes and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections of last Saturday were grossly flawed in every material particular and as such, must be challenged.” Obi stated that he had won the election and would use every legal and peaceful means to prove it in court.
After the elections, the two of them gave their first press conferences.
In a quick response, Tinubu, who had earlier extended a helping hand to his opponents at the poll in his victory speech, stated that he would meet them in court to defend his mandate.
They spoke as Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the APC, criticized Obi for criticizing the election result, which gave Tinubu the victory; Additionally, Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Chief Spokesperson of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, urged the LP candidate to refrain from engaging in “crass grandstanding.”
Additionally, the APC PCC advised Atiku to put his presidential ambitions into perspective.
Peter Obi Obi, speaking at a briefing in Abuja, urged his supporters, particularly party members, not to despair because he and Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, his running mate, had accepted the challenge from President Muhammadu Buhari and President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to mount a legal challenge if they were convinced the electoral process was flawed.
He stated, ” They asked me to go to court, and I am going to the court because we are not yet in court. I want to reaffirm and assure my Nigerian people that we will use every legal and peaceful means at our disposal to reclaim our mandate.
He said that his respect for his two other opponents had not diminished, and as a result, he would answer any calls from them.
However, Obi insisted that he would not back down from Nigerians who had put in their time and votes for his candidacy in the presidential elections on Saturday.
He said, referring to his opponents, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, as his fathers: I respect them, but I’m challenging the process in this case (elections). I won’t have any trouble calling; if they call, I’ll go.
Obi paid glowing tribute to the Nigerians who came out in large numbers on February 25, 2023, to take part in what was promised to be free, fair, and transparent elections for the presidential and National Assembly.
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate went on to say that the decision to challenge the procedure was based on the fact that it was flawed in many ways: ” Let me also express my appreciation and gratitude to all Nigerians who participated in our most recent election, particularly those who believed in, tirelessly worked for, and voted for a new Nigeria.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the youth, “Obidients,” and support groups for their perseverance and commitment to a better Nigeria. You proved that you are capable of retaking your nation!
“We continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all Nigerians who were killed during the campaigns, and we pray for the quick recovery of those who were violently attacked.
“We reiterate our total condemnation of such attacks and continue to demand that security agencies put an end to additional attacks and apprehend those responsible.