In a recent statement, the Presidency has responded to Peter Obi’s criticisms, asserting that no court in the country delivers judgments based on public opinion.
The response came after Obi, the Labor Party Presidential candidate in the last election, held a press conference in which he questioned the Supreme Court’s decision and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s handling of the February 25, 2023 election.
The statement, issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, noted that Mr. Obi, along with his party, had pledged to play the role of the opposition. The Presidency welcomed this decision and encouraged Obi to prepare for another shot at the presidency in 2027.
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Titled “Peter Obi should find a better vocation instead of casting aspersions on the judiciary,” the statement criticized Mr. Obi’s claims. It mentioned that Obi had alleged irregularities and malpractices in the election but failed to provide any evidence to substantiate his claims, both in the lower courts and at the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, the statement accused Obi of engaging in a divisive and polarizing campaign that pitted different religious and ethnic groups against each other, describing it as a “grand delusion.” It suggested that Obi’s criticisms of the Supreme Court were contradictory, as he had benefited from judicial rulings in the past but was now casting aspersions on the same court.
The Presidency emphasized that judicial decisions are not based on public opinion or emotional sentiments but rely on evidence, precedents, and the rule of law. It argued that Obi should have congratulated President Bola Tinubu and pledged his support after the Supreme Court’s ruling rather than raising extraneous matters in an attempt to overturn the decision.
The statement concluded by asserting that Obi had been rejected by the majority of Nigerians in the election, and his criticisms were a futile attempt to hold onto false allegations. It claimed that Nigerians had rejected him due to concerns about his potential impact on the country’s peace, progress, and stability.
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