By Giwa Suliat Bolaji (SIWES student, D S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic)
Peter Obi, along with Atiku Abubakar, attempted to challenge Bola Tinubu’s election victory, which was unsuccessful in the Supreme Court last month.
The judges unanimously dismissed their claims of widespread rigging, which Mr. Obi described as a total breach of confidence.
The fiercely contested February election was seen as a symbol of hope for some young people in Nigeria.
It aimed to break the long-standing dominance of the two major political parties. Bola Tinubu won with 37% of the votes, while Atiku Abubakar received 29% and Peter Obi 25%.
Both opposition candidates sought to overturn the election, alleging irregularities and questioning Tinubu’s eligibility.
The Election Petition Court upheld Tinubu’s victory in September, and the opposition appealed to the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled against them.
Peter Obi criticized the verdict, stating that it eroded Nigerians’ confidence in the judiciary and contradicted the evidence of rigging presented in court.
While not explicitly stating his future presidential aspirations, he emphasized that his journey for a better Nigeria was far from over.
A presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, called Obi’s remarks false claims and innuendos and suggested that he should congratulate President Tinubu and offer support in the spirit of statesmanship.
Atiku Abubakar lamented the impact of the ruling on Nigeria’s democracy and politics, while President Tinubu celebrated the court’s decision.
