Afenifere Claims Obi Won Presidential Election

Fidelis David in Akure

Pan Yoruba Socio-political group, Afenifere, has claimed that the candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, won the Presidential election. 

Afenifere made the claim in a Commuinique issued  after its monthly General Meeting held at the country home of its Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.

In the Commuinique made available to journalists in Akure by the Secretary General of Afenifere, Sola Ebiseni, Afenifere also reiterated its position that the Presidential election held on February 25 was characterised by all forms of primitive manipulations and noncompliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act 2022 and the guidelines and regulations. 

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, won the February 25 election and was declared President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Tinubu polled a total votes of 8,794,726 to defeat his closest rival and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who scored 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of Labour party who polled 6,101,533 votes.

The presidential candidate of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso came a distant fourth with the total votes of 1,496,687.

But in the commuinique Tuesday, Afenifere said:

“The results of the lawful votes at the Presidential election available to the Afenifere through credible sources confirm that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, won the said election and we, thus, support his decision challenging the contrary declaration by the INEC. Reassert that for equity, fairness, national cohesion and peaceful corporate existence, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be person of its southern part and specifically the South-East.

“Condemn in the strongest terms, the campaigns of calumny and  acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election particularly Lagos State where the election was made to appear like an inter-ethnic war between the Yoruba and Igbo  which greatly led to voters’ suppression and other forms of deliberate disenfranchisement through brigandage”.

The group expressed  belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and expect that it proves itself in the election litigations pending before it without fear or favour and in accordance with the judicial oaths of its members, in covenant with the Nigerian people.

Afenifere called on  President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the patriotic confidence and hope of the Nigerians in the continued corporate existence of the federation which will guaranty their safety throughout Nigeria.  

It also appreciated the  renewed interests of the international community in the security and democratic health of Nigeria and urged that as a prominent member of the global community, the affairs of Nigeria should continue to be of concern to the world.