Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate, breaks 48-hour silence, rejects Bola Tinubu as president-elect, and vows to contest INEC’s declaration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced yesterday that Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) won the polls.

INEC announced the result in the wee hours and hurriedly presented a certificate of return to the candidate same day.

Obi, the charismatic politician who roused Nigerian youths to step up to the vote, took to Twitter today to reject the result.

Yesterday, his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, announced that Labour has proof of how the ruling party allegedly rigged the election.

Obi took to Twitter this morning to declare that he won the election fair and square but was deprived.

He asked Nigerians to “remain resolute” as his party launches a legal battle to prove that he truly won.

Obi promised to pursue the exercise through “due process” and urged supporters to “remain calm and hopeful.”

“I have just finished addressing an international press conference. I urge Nigerians to remain resolute.

“We won this election and we will prove it to Nigerians.

“We shall reclaim our mandate via due process.

“Please do not despair!” he tweeted a while ago today 2 March 2023.

Tinubu waves olive leaf

Ondo Governor, Akeredolu said today that APC constituted a committee of party elders to persuade Tinubu’s opponents to accept his declaration as President-elect.

His spokesperson specifically named Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Peter Obi (LP), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNCP) as targets of the meeting.

On Monday, 27 February, agents of the trio walked out of the National Collation Centre where INEC was announcing election results.

They accused INEC of breaking its own election rules by accepting results generated outside its official capturing devices.

Local and international observers said INEC could not control the factors that allowed for free and fair polling to take place.

INEC declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressives Congress winner of 25 February 2023 presidential elections.

Yakubu Mahmood, INEC chair, said Tinubu met stipulated requirements, including winning the majority votes cast to emerge the winner.

Interestingly, the top three candidates won 12 of the 36 states apiece, with Labour Candidate Peter Obi winning the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

INEC’s announcement however placed him third on the ballot with 6.1 million votes.

INEC announced 8.7 million votes for Tinubu, and 6.9 million for Atiku Abubakar.

SEE TABLE: Candidates’ final scores in the 2023 Presidential Election

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