The Vice-Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr Peter Obi, on Monday said the outcome of the presidential election must be challenged in court.
Obi, who said this at a press conference in Onitsha, Anambra State, argued that impunity should not be allowed to prevail in the country in the 21st century.
He said, “As law-abiding citizens, the PDP as a party, Atiku Abubakar and myself, have decided to go to court because of our belief in the rule of law.
“Though elections give citizens a means to hold their leaders accountable by voting incumbents out of office or promising to hold to account those leaders successfully elected, the process is more important than the outcome as the rule of law must always prevail. Thus, the consequences of Nigeria without the rule of law will be unimaginable chaos and tyranny.”
Expressing his confidence in the judiciary, Obi said he appreciated the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians on the issue.
Concerning those that advised against going to court, Obi said the dilemma of Nigeria was allowing impunity to go unchallenged.
He said, “Besides putting a stop to impunity, such a challenge will also go a long way in strengthening the electoral processes and in guarding against repetition of such dastardly acts in future.”
Obi, who recalled how he had been on the legal route to reclaim his governorship mandate in Anambra State before, called on Nigerians to have faith in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
He cautioned the Federal Government against witch-hunt of opposition leaders and most especially voters in some parts of the country who voted according to their conscience.
Obi said, “To the young people, millions of whom I came across on our campaigns across the length and breadth of this country, and who showed great enthusiasm and promise for a greater Nigeria, I urge you to troop out on Saturday, March 9 to restate your message of a desire for a better Nigeria.
“Though a few have shown by ballot snatching, and violence are still held down by tribalism and ethnic bigotry, I urge the majority to continue in the march of the new world order, where all are equal, and Nigeria is united, secure and prosperous.”
He thanked Nigerians for their support for the PDP during the elections.
Speaking on the general conduct of the presidential election, Obi said it was anything but transparent, free and fair, adding that it fell far below the standard established by the 2015 presidential poll.
He added that it was characterised by deliberate voters’ suppression and intimidation throughout the South-East and the South-South, the actions, which he described as the highest form of corruption.
Obi lamented that the two zones under reference witnessed different sets of rules.
He said, “While some zones voted strictly using the card readers, other zones, as part of the manipulation orchestrated by the ruling party, the APC, were allowed to vote without card readers contrary to the guidelines INEC issued before the elections.”
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