Peter Obi Heads To Supreme Court After Rejecting PEPC Judgement [Video]

Peter Obi has rejected the PEPC judgment that affirmed Tinubu’s 2023 election victory.

Newsone reports that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections in Nigeria, Peter Obi, has rejected the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court read on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

This online news platform understands that Peter Obi insisted that he would exhaust every legal process available to him.

Speaking in a press briefing in Onitsha, the commercial nerve of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria, on Thursday, September 7, 2023, Peter Obi disagreed with the judgment but praised the panel for delivering it in the stipulated time frame.

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

“The PEPC is not the ultimate authority in this matter, the responsibility now rests with the Supreme Court, which I have confidence in. I urge Nigerians to maintain their focus, steadfastness, and commitment to peaceful processes. This matter has not yet reached its logical conclusion,” he said.

Peter Obi revealed that his legal team has already received firm instructions to file an appeal against the PEPC’s decision. He expressed determination in his pursuit of justice, not only for himself but also for the multitude of supporters across the nation whose electoral mandate he said was unjustly thwarted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Newsone Nigeria reports that the Labour Party Presidential candidate underscored the pivotal role of solid national institutions and the public’s confidence in them in a thriving democracy. He pointed out that electoral litigation could be significantly reduced if INEC discharged its statutory functions transparently and fairly. However, when such bodies falter, as he said INEC did in this case, the judiciary becomes an imperative recourse.

“I will exhaust the process before I can think otherwise. I respect the process. I’m a process person, and what we are going through is what will unite us. You can not use a wrong premise to make things,” he stated.

Watch the moment Peter Obi rejected the PEPC judgment below…

Peter Obi said: “Yesterday, 6 September 2023, the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) finally delivered its long-awaited judgments on the Petitions challenging the outcome of the presidential election held on 25 February 2023. This judgment was delivered within the statutory time frame under the extant statutes. We acknowledge the Court’s contributions to due process and the seeming attempt to strengthen our democracy.

“As petitioners in this case, we respect the views and rulings of the Court, but we disagree with the Court’s reasoning and conclusions in the judgment it delivered. It is my intention as a presidential candidate and the intention of the Labour Party to challenge this judgment by way of appeal immediately, as allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The PEPC has rendered its judgment, but that esteemed body is not the final arbiter. The responsibility now falls on the Supreme Court. I do know that judgment is not coterminous with justice. I implore Nigerians to remain focused, steadfast, and peaceful; abide by the rule of law, and understand that this matter has not reached its logical conclusion.

“Our legal team has already received our firm instruction to file an appeal against the decision. I shall not relent in the quest for justice, not necessarily for myself but indeed for our teeming supporters all over the country whose mandate to us at the polls was regrettably truncated by INEC.

“The strength and value of our democracy reside in solid national institutions and our confidence in them. Electoral litigations will be almost unnecessary and nonexistent if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discharges its statutory functions creditably, transparently, and with discernible fairness. When that body fails, as it did recently, thus subverting the will of Nigerian voters, the recourse to the judiciary becomes imperative, as is now the case.

“I thank every Nigerian who has supported our cause and campaign for a New Nigeria characterized by fairness, equity, justice, the rule of law, peace, prosperity, inclusiveness, sustainable growth, and development. A New Nigeria is possible and achievable. I especially thank our legal team, the Labour Party and Obidient Family, and all those who showed up daily during the court trials. God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”