Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 23 presidential election, has condemned in totality the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the election of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election.
Speaking in a press briefing on Thursday, Obi stated that while the “judgement was delivered within the statutory time frame under the extant statutes”, “we disagree with the Court’s reasoning and conclusions in the judgement it delivered.”
The former governor of Anambra State noted that, as a result of discontent with the judgement delivered, it is his “intention as a presidential candidate and the intention of the Labour Party to challenge this judgement by way of appeal immediately, as allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Obi further noted that his legal team has been instructed to appeal the judgement with immediate alacrity.
Obi, who condemned the actions and inactions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over what he alleged to be circumventing the will of the people in the election, stated that appealing the judgement of the PEPT “becomes imperative, as is now the case.”
Obi Said” Yesterday, September 6, 2023, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) finally delivered its long-awaited judgements on the petitions challenging the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
“This judgement was delivered within the statutory time frame under the extant statutes. We acknowledge the Court’s contributions to due process and its seeming attempt to strengthen our democracy.
“As petitioners in this case, we respect the views and rulings of the Court, but we disagree with the Court’s reasoning and conclusions in the judgement it delivered.
“It is my intention as a presidential candidate and the intention of the Labour Party to challenge this judgement by way of appeal immediately, as allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The PEPT has rendered its judgement, but that esteemed body is not the final arbiter. The responsibility now falls on the Supreme Court. I do know that judgement is not coterminous with justice.
“I implore Nigerians to remain focused, steadfast, and peaceful; to abide by the rule of law; and to understand that this matter has not reached its logical conclusion.
“Our legal team has already received our firm’s instruction to file an appeal against the decision. I shall not relent in the quest for justice, not necessarily for myself but indeed for our teeming supporters all over the country, whose mandate to us at the polls was regrettably truncated by INEC.
“The strength and value of our democracy reside in solid national institutions and our confidence in them.
“Electoral litigations will be almost unnecessary and nonexistent if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discharges its statutory functions creditably, transparently, and with discernible fairness.
“When that body fails, as it did recently, thus subverting the will of Nigerian voters, recourse to the judiciary becomes imperative, as is now the case.”
While calling for calm, Obi thanked his legal team and his Nigerian supporters for their wavering support, urging them to remain undaunted in the next phase of the legal battle in a bid to reclaim his “mandate”.
“I thank every Nigerian who has supported our cause and campaign for a New Nigeria characterised by fairness, equity, justice, the rule of law, peace, prosperity, inclusiveness, sustainable growth, and development.
“A new Nigeria is possible and achievable. I especially thank our legal team, the Labour Party, the Obidient Family, and all those who showed up daily during the court trials. God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.
