The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has said that he won the poll in the just-concluded presidential election and would explore all legal options to reclaim his mandate.
Obi faulted the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair elections, 63 years after independence, saying he would challenge the “electoral rascality” in court.
“We will explore all legal and peaceful option to reclaim our mandate. We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians”, Obi said at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
“I am challenging the process”, Obi declared to a room full of journalists at Nigeria’s capital city, his first media appearance after the declaration of a winner by the electoral umpire.
“This is very unfair. It is the least expected of Nigeria”, he said.
At the commencement of the briefing, Obi observed a one-minute silence for all injured and deceased victims of last Saturday’s national elections.
Also in attendance at the briefing is the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure; as well as the Director General of the presidential campaign, Mr Akin Osuntokun.
Obi also said that himself and his running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed remain committed to a new Nigeria.
He effusively thanked his youthful followers known as ‘Obidients’, urging them not to be deterred by the outcome of the polls.
“We will work for that new Nigeria that is possible”, he said. “Datti and I remain committed to that new Nigeria”.
Obi assured youths in the country that he is not going away but would stay and work for a new Nigeria.
He said the poll did not meet the minimum standard for a free and fair election, adding that it would go down as the most controversial election conducted in Nigeria.
