10th September, 2023
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 election, has asked his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, not to be discouraged by last Wednesday’s judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC.
The five-member PEPC Panel had in a unanimous judgment thrown out the petition filed by Obi to overturn the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the election.
Obi had challenged Tinubu’s victory despite coming third in the election behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Judges said Obi and his party failed to prove their claims that the election was marred by irregularities and malpractices or that the winner was not qualified to be on the ballot.
Obi had last Thursday said he would appeal the judgment at the Supreme Court.
However, Obi, in a message on his social media handles urged his Obidients and his other supporters not to despair or give up their quest for a new Nigeria because of the PEPC judgment.
According to Obi, “Since the tribunal verdict, there has been a note of general despair among Obidients and the generality of our supporters but let me assure us all that on this journey, despair or surrender is not our option.”
He assured that the dream of a new Nigeria “had only been deferred for now but remains alive for all times.”
He said: “Today, I want to personally reach out and encourage you all to keep hope alive. Considering the challenges that lie ahead of us as a movement, despair is not an option. Nothing good in life comes easy. Throughout history, positive change comes only with sacrifice, perseverance, resilience and fluctuating fortunes.”
He noted that he had earlier warned before the elections that the journey for a new Nigeria was not going to be a sprint but a marathon.
“Right from the onset of our journey, I told you that the journey upon which we were about to embark was not a short sprint but a long and tough marathon. It was always going to be difficult, painful, and excruciating.
“We set out knowing fully well that the forces we are up against are entrenched and formidable but not insurmountable. They would resist the wind of change and try to push us into surrender or despair. We must not succumb to their design.
#“I am inspired that we have endured the odds placed in our way at every point. In such a short space of time, we have persevered to get to the point where we cannot be ignored any longer. Therefore, I urge you to abide and never think of giving up.”
“Our recent disappointments have inspired me to re-dedicate myself to the cause of building a new Nigeria. For me, rescuing Nigeria is a lifelong commitment. And on this journey, we shall be resolute but orderly, principled but lawful. I assure you that we shall persist with even greater determination and zeal until we get to our destination. Nigeria must belong to all Nigerians and not to a select few,” Obi concluded.