According to Mr Obi, he had over 50 per cent of the votes in Rivers State. He alleged that the other two parties were sharing the remaining votes. “In Rivers, where you know the governor came out against me with everything, if the real votes of Rivers were counted, I won,” Mr Obi said.
Mr Obi further stated that he is challenging the electoral process in court. “I’m not challenging who they declared. I’m not challenging whatever the outcome. I’m challenging the process by which they arrived at their declaration,” Mr Obi said.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, however, denied working against Mr Obi’s presidential bid during the election. In a town hall meeting with Igbo traders in Port Harcourt over the weekend, Mr Wike said Obi is his 2023 presidential election hero because he blocked northerners from retaining power after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years.
“I’m happy that Peter Obi is interested in the presidency. I’m also happy that he has identified himself as the person who can stop the northerners from ruling Nigeria after Buhari,” Mr Wike said.
Mr Wike’s comments come as a surprise to many, considering the fact that he is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which fielded Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.
Mr Obi, who was the vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 elections, has been very vocal about his ambition to contest the presidency in 2023. He has been crisscrossing the country, meeting with stakeholders and articulating his vision for a better Nigeria.
In his interview with Arise TV, Mr Obi spoke about the need to diversify Nigeria’s economy, reduce the cost of governance, and tackle corruption. He also expressed his disappointment with the way the electoral process is being conducted in Nigeria.
“The electoral process in Nigeria needs to be reformed. It’s a shame that we are still talking about vote buying, ballot snatching, and all sorts of malpractices in this age and time,” Mr Obi said.
Mr Obi’s claim that he won the presidential election in Rivers State if the real votes were counted has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some have expressed support for his position, others have dismissed it as baseless.
The LP presidential candidate’s decision to challenge the electoral process in court has also been applauded by many Nigerians, who see it as a bold move to ensure that the will of the people is respected.
However, there are concerns about the independence of the judiciary, given the history of political interference in the Nigerian justice system. Many Nigerians are also worried that Mr Obi’s challenge may not yield any tangible results, considering the time it takes to resolve electoral disputes in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the LP has called on its supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and credible.
In a statement issued by the LP’s National Chairman, Abdul Ahmed Isa, the party expressed confidence in the judiciary to do justice in the matter.
“We have faith in the judiciary to adjudicate on this matter and ensure that justice is done. We urge our supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, while we pursue this matter to its logical conclusion,” the statement read.