Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has acknowledged that he has no evidence to substantiate his claim that he won the 2023 presidential election, while maintaining that he still believes he was the actual winner.
Obi made the statement during a recent BBC Africa interview while discussing his long-standing allegation that the 2023 presidential election was rigged.
When asked whether he had evidence to prove that he won the election, Obi initially responded, “There’s no evidence. Everything is not based on evidence.”
He nevertheless maintained his position moments later, saying, “I won the election and that’s where I will end.”
The former Anambra State governor was also questioned about why he continues to maintain that the election was rigged despite his legal challenges against the declared result being unsuccessful.
“I don’t like going back to the past. I sustain what I said,” Obi said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the 2023 presidential election, with Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party in second place and Obi in third.
Obi and Atiku challenged the result before the Presidential Election Petition Court, but their petitions were dismissed. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld Tinubu’s victory.
Obi Defends Position on Fuel Subsidy
During the interview, Obi also addressed his position on fuel subsidy, rejecting suggestions that his stance had changed.
“I’ve not changed. What has changed is that whenever I talk about methodology, people say, oh, it has changed,” he said.
He explained that his position had always included concerns about corruption within the subsidy system.
“I talked about the corruption. The corruption is the problem of the subsidy,” Obi said.
Asked how he would tackle corruption if elected president, Obi said he would personally lead the effort rather than leave the responsibility entirely to others.
“If you are not stealing, if you are not involved, your wife and family are not involved, you reduce it by 50 percent,” he said.
He was also asked about corruption during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and whether he believed his approach would be different.
Obi pointed to what he described as a difference in leadership responsibility.
“He wasn’t in charge. The difference is this. I would be in charge,” he said.
Obi Rejects Question on Stepping Down
Obi was further asked whether he would withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if opposition parties eventually agreed to support another candidate.
Rather than accept the premise of the question, he said the focus should be on doing what is necessary to mobilise voters and achieve the desired political change.
“We don’t need to step down. We need to do the right thing,” Obi said.
His comments come as opposition parties and political figures continue discussions around possible cooperation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Source: BBC Africa.
