In a press conference held on Monday, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, voiced his strong criticism of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the 2023 general election. He expressed his disappointment, asserting that the highest court had overlooked compelling evidence presented before it.
Obi accused both the Supreme Court and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of “shifting the goal post” while acting as the umpire for the election, implying that their actions had undermined the credibility of the electoral process.
The Supreme Court’s ruling aligned with the September 6 verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court on all counts. Justice Inyang Okoro, leading a seven-man panel at the apex court, delivered a unanimous judgment, settling all seven issues raised in the appeals filed by the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi in favor of the elected President Tinubu.
The apex court, through the lead judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, concluded that there was no merit in Atiku/PDP and Obi/LP’s petitions aimed at nullifying the election’s outcome.
In response to this decision, the former governor of Anambra State emphasized the importance of the rule of law and noted that the Supreme Court represented the final stage in the pursuit of legal closure regarding the election. However, Obi lamented that the court’s decision marked the end of his party’s legal and constitutional avenues to challenge the outcome.
He further stated, “Both INEC and Supreme Court, as referees, shifted the goal post in the middle of the game.” Obi and the Labour Party now transition into the role of the opposition as they continue to pursue their vision for a better Nigeria.
Elaborating on the Labour Party’s mission for a new Nigeria, Peter Obi called for a government built on principles of capacity, character, and competence. He expressed the party’s commitment to delivering their message of hope to all corners of the country, engaging with the people in various settings to address their needs.
Obi emphasized that the Labour Party would remain loyal to its manifesto, advocating for good governance and issues that promote national interest and unity.
