Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has maintained he won the 2023 presidential election, contradicting the official results.
Obi made this assertion during a live session on X (previously known as Twitter), hosted by Parallel Facts.
The former governor of Anambra State emphasized the significant influence of his supporters, dubbed “Obidients”, both in Nigeria and globally, asserting their contributions should not be underestimated.
Obi urged his followers to take pride in their accomplishments during the 2023 election, viewing it as a stepping stone towards future successes. He stated, “We didn’t lose the 2023 election; we emerged victorious. The impact of the Obidients was felt worldwide, and that’s something that can’t be overlooked. This is just the beginning, so hold your heads high and celebrate. Together, we can create a new Nigeria.”
In the presidential election held on February 25, Nigerians’ hopes for a free, fair, and credible process were dashed. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not transmit the results via the IREV system and is accused of manipulating to manual results. Consequently, Bola Tinubu was declared the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, causing widespread disappointment.
However, the European Union’s report on Nigeria’s 2023 general elections painted a different picture, citing a lack of transparency and democratic processes. The report blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for eroding public trust in the electoral process during both the presidential and state-level elections.
International election observers echoed these sentiments, criticizing INEC for its lack of transparency during the 2023 presidential election. Kwankwaso, another political figure, criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to ensure free, fair, and credible polls. He argued that the level of alleged vote buying, intimidation with firearms, and recorded irregularities would have led to the cancellation of the elections in more civilized countries. He further claimed that the election results did not reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.
Despite these claims, INEC officially declared Bola Tinubu, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the winner of the 2023 presidential election. Tinubu reportedly defeated 17 other candidates, garnering a total of 8,794,726 votes, the highest among all candidates. He also received over 25% of the votes cast in 30 states, surpassing the constitutional requirement.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakr of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came in second with 6,984,520 votes, followed by Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) with 6,101,533 votes. Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNP) finished fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
