OBI CALLS FOR CALM AS HE APPEALS JUDGMENT

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 General Election, Mr. Peter Obi, says he is challenging the judgment delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

He made this known while addressing journalists at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Mr. Obi said as a petitioner in the case, his party respects the rulling and views of the judges but disagrees with the reasons and conclusions of the court and the judgment it delivered.

He said it was his intention and that of the Labour Party to challenge the judgment immediately as allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The PEPC has rendered it’s judgment but that esteemed body is not the final arbiter, the responsibility now falls on the Supreme court.

“I implore Nigerians to remain focused, steadfast and peaceful and to abide by the rule of law and understand that this matter has not reached its logical conclusion,” Mr. Obi appealed.

The Labour Party presidential candidate stated that his legal team had already received firm instructions to file an appeal against the Appeal Court decision.

According to Mr. Obi, he would not relent in the quest for justice, not necessarily for himself but for his teeming supporters all over the country, whose mandate at the polls, he claimed, was regrettably truncated by INEC.

The Labour Party presidential candidate, acknowledged the contributions of the courts to due process and seeming attempt to strengthen the Nation’s democracy.

Mr. Obi said the strength and value of the Nigeria’s democracy reside in solid national institutions and the confidence reposed in them.

He said that electoral litigations would have almost been unnecessary and non existent, if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had discharged its statutory functions creditably, transparently and with fairness.

“When that body fails as it did recently, those subverting the will of Nigerian voters, recourse to judiciary becomes imperative as is now the case.

“I thank every Nigerian who has supported our course and campaign for a new Nigeria, characterised by fairness, equity, justice, rule of law, peace, prosperity, inclusiveness, sustainable growth and developments.

“A new Nigeria is possible and achievable. I specially thank our legal team, the Labour Party and the Obidient family and all those who showed up daily during our court trials. God bless you all and God bless the Federal republic of Nigeria,” he concluded.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU