I’m putting out this concerns to enable us be abreast with the situation on ground. Because supporters, some analysts and some media outlets are making different versions, forgetting that they are shaping opinion in people’s mind that will in turn impelled actions. And this things have potential to either birth peace or crisis in the country.
Some of the Obidients are already spilling fire, even without knowledge of what is before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Therefore, we need to be guided properly.
First, the legal fireworks between Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu begun on 8 May, 2023.
Peter Obi jointly filed his petition with the Labour party. INEC, Tinubu, Shettima Kashim, and All Progressives Congress (APC) are respondents.
Good that the respondents are commenced their defence.
The prayers are thus:
25% IN FCT
Obi and LP want the Tribunal to determine “that the 2nd Respondent (Tinubu) failed to secure 25% of votes cast at the Presidential Election in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Therefore, Tinubu was not entitled to be declared and returned as the winner of the presidential election held on 25 February, 2023.
ELECTION CANCELATION
Obi and the Labour party prayed the court to order the cancellation of the 25 February, 2023 presidential election. They claimed that “the Presidential election conducted on 25th February, 2023 is void on the ground that the election was not conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended”.
FRESH ELECTION
In addition to the election cancellation, Peter Obi asked the court to compel INEC to conduct fresh election. And the Fresh election should be without Tinubu/Shettima.
According to Peter Obi “the nomination of Kashim Shettima as vice Presidential candidate was defective as he did not withdraw from his nomination as a senatorial candidate of his party before accepting to serve as vice presidential candidate of Mr Tinubu”.
ELIGIBILITY
Peter Obi is praying that Mr Tinubu should not have been eligible to run for the top office due to his “ineligibility”.
Obi’s lead lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu in his submission, said President Tinubu “was not duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election”.
In addition, Peter Obi also claimed President Tinubu “was linked to DRUG TRAFFICKING BY US COURT” leading to his eventual forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 to the American government, adding the latter is “not qualified to contest Nigerian presidency”.
So, from the prayers of Peter Obi before the Court, we can all see that Peter Obi did not say he won the Presidential election held on 25 February, 2023. Therefore, demanding the Court to declare Peter Obi winner of the said election is a proof of obvious ignorance.
Also, as a supporter of Peter Obi or Obidient. Please, stop misinformation yourselves and thereby, heating up the polity that Peter Obi won the 25th February, 2023 presidential election. Because your principal did not say he won.
Any expectation that Peter Obi will be declared winner of the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023 should be buried because it is a mirage. The Court is not a father christmas that will dash you something you never sought for.
Now, we are aware of Peter Obi’s prayers before the Court. I will also post key points of Peter Obi’s arguments and presentations before the presidential election petition tribunal after now. Since he has closed his case before the Court.
Emmy Fierhagha
