By Damola Emmanuel (who monitored it from Lagos)
It is my belief, and I maintain so consistently, that if you must answer ‘His Excellency’, the process through which you arrived towards it must be excellent
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi has announced that he will challenge the result of last Saturday’s election in court as there was copious evidence to show and prove that the process was marred by irregularities and therefore fundamentally floored.
But he will not speak on specific malpractices that allegedly marred the process as he would not want to preempt himself or the evidence that his party was taking to court.
He disclosed this position in a crowded press conference he addressed in Abuja, Thursday afternoon, appealing to his supporters and other aggrieved groups to be calm and patient and process their grievances through legal means, the court of law.
Obi, who called for a minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives during Saturday’s election, prayed God to comfort their bereaved families and speedily heal those in hospital, also prayed for peace and tranquility of Nigeria.
Back to the main thrust of the press conference, the LP candidate said that “We won that election”, adding, “we will explore all legal and peaceful means to prove that the election.”
“The election that we just witnessed has been conducted and results announced as programmed,” he continued. “It is a clear separation from the electoral rules and guidelines. This election, as you know, does not meet the minimum standard of a free, transparent, credible, fair election. It will go down as one of those controversial elections ever conducted in Nigeria.
“The good and hardworking people of Nigeria have been robbed by our supposed leaders who they trusted.”
Acknowledging that he knew that his supporters and “most Nigerians” were hurting and saddened by the outcome of the election, he however pleaded for calm.
“Let me humbly and most respectfully appeal to all Nigerians to remain peaceful, law abiding and conduct themselves in most responsible manner. Please be assured that Datti and I, and indeed all of us, that this is not the end but the beginning of the journey for a new Nigeria. Datti Baba Ahmed and I remain truly undaunted but deeply committed to the project of a new Nigeria that is built on transparency, fairness, justice, and equity.”
Amid applause, he continued: “The process through which people come into office is far more fundamental and more important than what they do thereafter. It is my belief, and I maintain so consistently, that if you must answer ‘His Excellency’, the process through which you arrived towards it must be excellent.”
Maintaining that whatever leaders do must be done in such a way that would generate and inspire confidence in the people, he reiterated that the election of Saturday did not meet the basic standard of credible elections and, therefore would be challenged.
He assured his supporters that their support and sacrifice will not be in vain.
(More later)
