Obi rejects PEPC judgement, heads to Supreme Court

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2016 general elections, has disputed the Presidential Election Petition Court’s verdict that was read on Wednesday.

Obi vowed that he would use all of his legal options.

Obi disagreed with the verdict but commended the panel for delivering it within the required time frame when he addressed the press in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Thursday.

According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, “in my capacity as a presidential candidate and on behalf of the Labour Party, we will immediately challenge this judgement through the appellate process.”

I have faith in the Supreme Court to do the right thing here; the PEPC is not the final say on this. I hope that the people of Nigeria would be focused, consistent, and dedicated to peaceful procedures. The natural conclusion to this issue has not been reached,” he remarked.

Obi has informed the public that he has instructed his legal team to challenge the PEPC’s ruling. He vowed to seek redress not only for himself but also on behalf of his many followers around the country, whose votes he claimed were stolen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Obi stressed the importance of dependable national institutions and public trust in them for a healthy democracy. He argued that if INEC carried out its statutory obligations openly and equitably, election litigation would be greatly less. When such institutions fail, however, as he said INEC had in this instance, the rule of law becomes a necessary last resort.

I need to see this through to the end before I can consider any other option. This procedure has my utmost respect. What we are going through is what I see as the common ground; I’m a process person. He said, “You can’t make things from a faulty premise.