Presidential Polls: Why Nigerians rejected Peter Obi

The Presidency has defined why nearly all of eligible voters didn’t elect Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Social gathering within the 2023 presidential election.

A press assertion signed by Bayo Onanuga, particular adviser to President Bola Tinubu on data and technique on Monday, famous that Mr Obi was rejected on the polls as a result of “he posed current and future hazard to the peace, progress and stability of the nation.”

The assertion additional stated that Mr Obi’s antecedents as governor of Anambra for eight years didn’t encourage any confidence as somebody able to operating a rustic like Nigeria.

“No tangible information of feat within the state he ruled beneficial him for the Presidency of Nigeria,” part of the assertion learn.

Mr Onanuga suggested Mr Obi to discover a worthwhile vocation to have interaction his time having been rejected by Nigerians on the ballot

The presidential assertion comes on the heels of a press convention referred to as by Mr Obi the place he criticised the Supreme Court docket’s judgement that upheld the victory of Mr Tinubu within the twenty fifth February election.

Talking on the press convention on Monday, Mr Obi, who got here third within the election, accused the Supreme Court docket and INEC of “shifting the goalposts” because the umpire of the election.

The primary runner-up within the election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering, had final week additionally referred to as a press convention the place he lambasted the duo of INEC and the apex courtroom for declaring Mr Tinubu because the winner of the election.

Learn the complete assertion beneath:

STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT

PETER OBI SHOULD FIND BETTER VOCATION INSTEAD OF CASTING ASPERSIONS ON THE JUDICIARY

Labour Social gathering Presidential candidate within the final election, Mr. Peter Obi, addressed a press convention, similar to Atiku Abubakar, the place he forged aspersions on the Supreme Court docket and the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee for not declaring him the winner of the February 25, 2023 election.

We’re at a loss as to how the copy-cat Obi and his faction of Labour Social gathering satisfied themselves they gained an election through which they got here a distant third.

The grand delusion that made Mr. Obi consider he may have gained a nationwide election the place he ran probably the most hateful, divisive and polarising marketing campaign that pitched Christians in opposition to Muslims and one ethnic group in opposition to the opposite in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society like Nigeria needs to be a matter for deeper examination.

On the press convention the place he tried, in useless, to gaslight Nigerians with false claims and innuendos, Mr. Obi contradicted himself. Right here was a beneficiary of judicial pronouncements prior to now now castigating the identical courtroom as a result of its judgment didn’t go his approach.

Mr. Obi claimed the Supreme Court docket justices didn’t take into account public opinion in delivering what has been applauded as a most profound judgement in an election enchantment the place the Labour Social gathering candidate introduced probably the most watery and unreasonable petition earlier than any courtroom within the historical past of electoral instances in Nigeria.

He made false allegations of rigging and different electoral malpractices but couldn’t produce any proof to again up his claims at each the courtroom of first occasion and on the apex courtroom. In a failed effort to mobilise and retain the assist of his supporters, Obi gave them a forlorn hope that he gained the election and would show it earlier than the courts. All through the trial, his attorneys didn’t current any different outcomes totally different from the outcomes INEC uploaded on the IReV portal and those signed by all celebration brokers from the 176,000 polling items.

We surprise how the Labour Social gathering candidate anticipated the courts to do justice on the premise of rumours, lies and false narratives by sponsored partisans and fanatical members of his Obidient Motion.

We anticipated the Labour Social gathering candidate to know that the Supreme Court docket or some other courtroom doesn’t give judgment based mostly on public opinion and mob sentiments. Judicial pronouncements are based mostly on proof, precedents and the rule of legislation.

Having admitted that the Supreme Court docket ruling introduced an finish to litigation and any problem to the bona-fide of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because the validly elected chief of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Obi ought to have congratulated President Tinubu for his victory and pledge his assist, within the spirit of statesmanship.

However as a substitute, he introduced up extraneous issues that he thought the apex courtroom ought to have thought-about to declare him the winner. In our view, the drowning Obi, similar to Atiku, was merely making an attempt to carry on to a straw in raking up new allegations, which exist solely in his creativeness and that of his hordes of supporters.

Our admonition to Mr. Peter Obi is to seek out one other worthwhile vocation to have interaction his time henceforth, having been rejected by majority of Nigerians who didn’t take into account him certified to steer our nation.

Nigerians rejected Peter Obi and his demagoguery on the ballot as a result of he posed current and future hazard to the peace, progress and stability of our nation.

Obi’s antecedents as Governor of Anambra for eight years didn’t encourage any confidence as somebody able to operating a rustic like Nigeria. No tangible information of feat within the state he ruled beneficial him for the Presidency of Nigeria.

If Mr. Peter Obi really believes in Nigeria, the time to show it’s now when all women and men of goodwill are rallying assist for President Tinubu in his dedication to steer a brand new period of prosperity, inclusive governance and financial development in Nigeria.

Lastly, we welcome Obi and his celebration to play the position of the opposition and begin getting ready for one more shot on the presidency in 2027.

We hope by then he would marketing campaign on points and never whip up non secular and ethnic sentiments as he did within the final marketing campaign.

Bayo Onanuga

Particular Adviser to the President on Data & Technique

November 6, 2023