Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has again maintained that he won Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, alleging that the outcome was manipulated despite the official declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner.
Obi made the remarks during a roundtable discussion hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin, Germany. Addressing participants, the former Anambra State governor said he remains convinced that the election reflected the will of Nigerians in his favour, arguing that many citizens are aware of what transpired during the poll.
“I won the election, and Nigerians know it,” Obi reportedly told the audience, reiterating his long-standing position that the electoral process did not accurately reflect the votes cast.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), however, declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election. According to the official results, Tinubu secured about 36.6 per cent of the valid votes cast, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) placed second with approximately 29.1 per cent. Obi finished third with about 25.4 per cent of the votes.
Following the election, the Labour Party challenged the outcome at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal before proceeding to the Supreme Court after the tribunal dismissed its petition. Nigeria’s apex court subsequently upheld Tinubu’s election, affirming the validity of the results announced by INEC.
Obi’s latest comments have generated mixed reactions on social media. Supporters praised him for remaining consistent in his belief that the election did not reflect the popular mandate, while critics argued that the issue had been conclusively settled through Nigeria’s judicial process.
The remarks also come as political attention gradually shifts toward the 2027 general election. Analysts note that Obi has recently intensified engagement with stakeholders across Northern Nigeria, a move widely interpreted as part of efforts to broaden his national political appeal ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Despite the renewed debate, the official outcome of the 2023 presidential election remains the one declared by INEC and affirmed by the Supreme Court.
