By Emmanuel Sixtus
What Happened
Peter Obi, who ran for a failed presidential election in 2023 in Nigeria with the Labour Party, lost the court case instituted against President Bola Amed Tinubu, with the court confirming that the APC won the election adjudged to be rigged in favour of APC by most Nigerian youths.
The petition against APC was struck out on the ground of lacking merit. The decision of the court sent shockwaves across the country, due to the obvious irregularities and rigging of the election.
Reacting to the court ruling, which did not come as a surprise, Obi told his supporters not to lose hope in their dream of a “New Nigeria.” Even though they faced a setback in court, Obi conveyed to everyone that this doesn’t mean his movement is over.
The Labour Party candidate was not expecting the court to rule in his favour; although he has never lost in an election tribunal, he has not tried a presidential election tribunal.
There was an initial boost among his supporters that he would overturn the election in the presidential election tribunal, but he ultimately failed, casting further doubt in the hope of presidential tribunal ever overturning the election in Nigeria.
Nigeria is a third-world country whose constitution is not truly supreme.
Rule of law is lacking, which has aided corruption and misappropriation of public funds. It is already clear that whoever wins the apex office of Nigeria will quickly influence the court to take his side.
Justice is buyable in Nigeria, especially when there is a remarkable interest. So, losing the court case was a normal thing; at least Peter Obi understood that the change he yearns for cannot be gotten through the law court but on the ground and through the ballot box.
A Dream Delayed, Not Defeated
The court recently, in a unanimous decision, said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election fairly, a decision that left many of Obi supporters in limbo.
The supporters of the former Anambra State governor were clear on their claim that the election was rigged and had presented enough evidence to be considered a rigged election.
They were expecting a different outcome against all odds. But Obi knows what is obtainable in the Nigerian political landscape, especially when it comes to judicial battle for a mandate.
He told his supporters that their dream is still alive but just delayed for now. He further urged everyone to keep working hard because setbacks are part of making real progress.
The Labour Party leader is clearly aware of the enormous task facing him and his party if they are to bring a change in the country.
He is banking on consistency and belief among his supporters as the keys to achieving the dream of making Nigeria great.
The Labour Party leader knows that to win a presidential election in Nigeria takes time and immeasurable hard work, but at the same time, he knows that his supporters are losing hope and needs to be motivated.
The expectation his supporters had was shattered after the election, and they need to be picked up to continue the journey of emancipating Nigeria.
A Movement Based on Hope and Determination
Obi also talked about how the Obidients’ movement is about more than just winning one election. “We are fighting for the heart of our country,” he said.
The Labour Party leader was rallied by Nigerian youths to go and win it for the country, but the attempt didn’t yield the expected result, and the concept of Obidients’ movement has changed from politics to general purpose movement, built solely for the emancipation of Nigeria.
Throughout his campaign in 2023, Obi had focused on critical issues like good governance, honesty, and enhancing the economy.
Many people, especially Nigerian youths, see Obi as a beacon of hope. But they are slightly moved after the election, believing that corruption is a significant barrier against good governance and everything Peter Obi stands for.
They also believe he embodies integrity in a political system that is often characterised by corruption.
Obi supporters are organic and Nigerians from all regions and religions, from young professionals to grassroots activists, which is one of the most remarkable parts of his journey.
Legal Challenges Continue
Irrespective of the fact that Obi is encouraging his supporters to remain determined and strong, his legal team is still putting a significant shift in court. Along with Atiku Abubakar from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Obi has questioned whether the election was done in accordance with the law of the land.
There is room to appeal the judgement, but Obi has shown no indication of embracing it.
Prior to the election, there were electoral reforms signed into law by former president Muhammadu Buhrai, but the signed law was largely neglected during the election, with the notable one being INEC’s inability or refusal to update live results from polling booths.
Obi and Atiku are concerned about how the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the election, which they argued was rigged in favour of the winning party.
Like the supporters of both candidates, the recent court decision has made it harder for the lawyers of the complainants to continue these efforts, and many people are wondering what will happen next.
There are debates in the public as to whether Obi made the right decision by not appealing the court’s decision. Some think it was right and said it would enable the Labour Party leader to focus on building a strong political platform for the next election, while others argued it was a missed opportunity to challenge the election process.
Proponents believe the country’s judiciary is not formulated in a way that it could stand pressure from the executive, as the appointments and dismissals of judges are at the discretion of the president.
Conclusion
As Nigeria moves forward politically, the next few months will be very crucial for Obi and the Labour Party. His supporters will like to see a reason to be rejuvenated. Obi knows that a downtrodden support base will not be able to achieve any political success; more words and actions are expected of him.
Many of his supporters still support his vision, but the challenge will be to sustain the support and turn it into real political success. Whether via mobilising afresh from the grassroots, rebranding his policies, or changing his political postures that are often interpreted as weak, Obi’s messages henceforth need to change and be surgical, and it would be founded on the slogan ‘dream for a New Nigeria is not over’.
“Our cause is right, and our commitment to a better Nigeria is strong.” His phrase will need to be instilled in his supporters to enable the renewed energy needed to go again as the judiciary has failed to upturn the alleged stolen mandate.
Now that the judiciary dust is settling, a new beginning is expected of the former governor to prepare for 2027.
