Middle-Belt Coalition to Peter Obi: Accept 2023 Election Outcome, Respect Institutions

In response to Labour Party candidate Peter Obi’s continued criticism of the 2023 Nigerian general election, a coalition of civil society organizations, operating under the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum, has called for acceptance of the election results.

Obi, citing alleged fraud and irregularities, expressed dissatisfaction with the election results. However, the coalition, represented by spokesperson Dr. Danladi Ceceko, emphasized that the election, which saw President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory, reflected the will of the Nigerian people and was upheld by the Supreme Court.

The coalition accused Obi of undermining institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Supreme Court, urging him to acknowledge their credibility.

Ceceko highlighted the contrast between Obi’s acceptance of previous election outcomes and his current stance, pointing out that he had benefited from these same institutions in the past.

Additionally, the coalition challenged Obi’s comparison of the Nigerian electoral process to South Africa’s, noting that both systems faced challenges and technical glitches.

Overall, the coalition urged Nigerians to respect institutions and collaborate to enhance the electoral process instead of disparaging them. They emphasized that technical glitches were common worldwide and did not invalidate election outcomes.