Peter Obi campaigns in Lagos ahead of February 25 presidential election

Thousands of Labour Party (LP) supporters trooped out to welcome the party’s flag bearer, Peter Obi, to Lagos on Saturday, February 11.

Mr Obi is one of 18 candidates seeking Nigeria’s highest office on February 25.

The LP candidate arrived Lagos to attend a series of political activities and a campaign rally for the forthcoming elections.

Some of his supporters were already seated at the Tafawa Balewa Squre (TBS) waiting for his arrival while others assembled at Ikeja.

After his arrival, Mr Obi met with some traders and supporters at the Alaba international market in the Ojo area of the state.His supporters were chanting his name “Obi” and waving the party flag to indicate their support for his candidacy.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Mr Obi said he arrived with his team at Ojo area of the state, with plans to go to the TBS where a massive crowd was waiting for him.

“My team and I are in Ojo area of Lagos on a market storm ahead of the Lagos Rally. Thank you Lagos. Eko oni baje!” @PeterObi tweeted.

“We just arrived at the Alaba international market to an awesome reception. We’re pondering what the rally will be like. LP is Finishing Strong. Salute to all Obidients and the Nigerian Youths.

“We are pushing through towards TBS. We’re now on the Lagos Road Walk: the turn out is awesome. I’m really humbled!” Mr Obi tweeted.

Nobody can say what will happen to Nigeria if I don’t become president- Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential flag bearer on the platform of the Labour Party, says he wishes Nigeria well but expresses concern about what will happen next to Nigeria if he loses the February 25 presidential election.

A large turnout of voters at the poll would pave the way for Mr Obi’s victory, said a poll conducted by Nigeria’s data intelligence provider, Stears, describing the Labour Party standard-bearer as “Nigeria’s most popular presidential candidate.”

New Nextier, an Africa-focused consulting firm, also predicted that the ex-Anambra governor would win in February.

According to the Labour Party standard-bearer, the presidential poll is an existential election, and he urged everyone to be involved.

“If we get it wrong, nobody can tell what next will happen. In all I am doing, I will always wish Nigeria the best,” Mr Obi stressed.

“I know you will, too and in doing that, I urge you to be part of the new Nigeria Datti, and I are fighting for.”

Mr Obi stated this at a public presentation of the book, ‘Peter Obi: Many Voices, One Perspective’ in Abuja.

He thanked the organisers of the book launch for believing in him and for choosing to be part of his efforts to see that a new Nigeria is possible and appealed to Nigerians to support him in turning Nigeria around by voting for him in the February 25 presidential election.

“We are committed to it; as I told all the supporters, we need people. We need all of you to support us, especially in these final days to reach the end of this phase. Nigeria has suffered a lot. This is a great country that can be turned around,” the former Anambra governor explained.

Mr Obi added,

“We cannot succeed without your intervention, so as you launch this book, please be part of what we are doing to change Nigeria.”

Nigerian women are more productive, less corrupt than men – Presidential candidate, Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the Labour Party( LP) presidential candidate, has said that women are more productive in Nigeria and less corrupt than their male counterparts.

The former governor of Anambra State made this claim on Sunday, January 8, during The Peoples Townhall, organised by Channels Television.

At the meeting, Ebere Ifendu, President Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), highlighted that the percentage of women in governance is abysmally low and asked Obi what he plans to do about this.

She said: “I want to ask you specifically, what will you be doing to change the status of women in governance.”

Obi responded by revealing all the key positions women held in Anambra State when he was the governor.

He then pledged to bring more women into government if elected president in the forthcoming general elections.

He said:

“I can say it without anything; women are more productive in Nigeria than men any day, any time. I worked with them when I was in the banking industry; they saved the bank.”

“I wish our men would do the same thing. And they (women) are less corrupt; they are easily satisfied with little.

“Men will just go on and on, forgetting that it is public money they are taking.”

Peter Obi Promises To Include Women, PWDs In Govt

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has affirmed that his administration would accommodate women, youths and persons living with disability.

He made this known via his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

“This morning, I attended the Governance Agenda for an Inclusive Nigeria (GAIN) event in Abuja. I was the only candidate that personally signed off on our commitment and affirmation to inclusivity of Nigerian women, youths, and persons with disability (PWD) in governance.”, he tweeted.

In my administration ASUU won’t strike —Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Tuesday said that Academic Staff Union of Universities won’t go on strike if he becomes the next president of the country.

Obi speaking at a state rally in Owerri, Imo State, said that his administration would dialogue with ASUU leadership to ensure that universities won’t be locked.

The Labour Party presidential candidate said his administration would work with students and invest hugely in education, health and agriculture.

Obi also reiterated his commitment to providing jobs and turning the country from consumption to production, adding that himself and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, had clean records in academics and public service.

He added that the people of Imo State could begin to export palm seeds if he becomes the next president.The ex-Anambra State governor said that rural people across the country would feel the impact of his administration if he wins the February 25 presidential election.

Obi said;

“If you make me your president and Datti my vice, ASUU won’t go on strike. We will dialogue with them. We will work with the students. The future of any serious country is dependent on their education and health sectors. I will invest hugely in those sectors if you elect us.

“We want to go back to Agriculture. That is why we want to turn Nigeria from consumption to production. We will create jobs and export, export and export.

“I and Datti are not corrupt. Our records are clean. Datti was a senator and I was a governor in Anambra. If you want to check my record, go to Anambra State and verify.

“As the governor of Anambra state I didn’t allocate a plot of land to myself, my wife here or my children. If you see any land I allocated to myself or any member of my family I will quit from this race,” he added.

Obi Meets UNOWAS Deputy Special Representative

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has met with Giovanie Biha, the Deputy Special Representative of United Nations Office For West Africa and Sahel, in Abuja.

He shared pictures from the visit via his Twitter handle on Monday.

Obi wrote;

“Earlier today, I received Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and the UNOWAS delegation.

We exchanged views on national, regional and global issues.

Presidential candidate Peter Obi and Soludo Meets In Anambra

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, on Thursday, meet in Akwa.

The duo met at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka during the Thanksgiving mass for Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor in celebration of his 70th birthday.

This meeting comes a few days after Soludo bashed Obi and dismissed his chances at the poll.

Actress, Patience Ozokwo, Drums Support For Peter Obi

Veteran Nollywood actress, Patience Ozokwo popularly known as Mama Gee, has shown her support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

She captioned the video on her Instagram page, “Grassroot politics at its best. May it never be said that we failed for lack of trying. Be the change you need.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjSXsyPsV1p/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

APC’s Keyamo, PDP’s Omokri react to Obidients’ rallies

Former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has said that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has disrupted the political space in the country.

Omokri, a staunch supporter of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, stated this late Saturday in reaction to the rallies held across the country by the supporters of Obi for the 2023 presidential election.

Describing the rallies as great achievements, he noted that the Obidient movement should not be disregarded by anyone who was politically conscious.

“The Obidient rallies at Festac and Amuwo were amazing. They are great achievements. Anyone who tries to belittle them is not politically astute. While Obi will not win in 2023, he has successfully disrupted politics in Nigeria.

Well done Obi! Well done Obidients!”, he tweeted.

However, in an earlier tweet, Omokri had said that the rallies were just a show of force by southeastern traders who closed down their shops.

“These so called ‘one million man marches’ are mostly a gathering of traders in various Nigerian towns and cities, who close down their markets (that are heavily dominated by people of southeastern origin), to do what in the military is called a show of force,” he tweeted.

The Spokesman for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has also reacted to the rallies by the Obidients on Saturday.

Mocking the supporters of Obi, Keyamo said the rallying Obidients were not more than a thousand people who were not more than the electorate needed at two polling units.

“The aerial shots are the best. Now, look at this: at best the ‘crowd’ here is not more than a thousand people which is approximately just two polling units,” he quote-tweeted a video from one of the rallies.

Give Us Obi, Supporters Chant In London

A rally in support of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, was held in London on Saturday.

Obi’s supporters converged on the Nigeria High Commission in London where some of them chanted, “Give Us Obi.”

Meanwhile, rallies for Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed held in different states and locations in Nigeria on Saturday.

Gridlock As ‘Obidients’ Rally At Lekki

A rally in support of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the Lekki area of Lagos on Saturday has resulted in heavy traffic.

There was police presence in the area and Lekki Tollgate to enforce a court order that Obi’s supporters shouldn’t converge at that location.

Presidential candidate Peter Obi, Yusuf Datti Arrive Jos

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, have arrived in Jos, Plateau State.

Obi revealed that they will be meeting with the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba and the Middle Belt Forum.Obi shared pictures of his arrival on his Twitter handle on Wednesday saying;

“Arriving Jos with Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, to meet with Gbong Gwom Jos, HRM Jacob Gyang Buba and also honour the invitation of the Middle Belt Forum to a solidarity rally”.

“We continue to call on the FGN to end the ASUU strike and allow our children to go back to school”.

Court stops Peter Obi’s supporters from converging at Lekki toll gate

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Labour Party and its supporters not to converge at the Lekki toll gate for the rally it plans to hold in the state on October 1st, 2022.

The court also directed the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Police Commissioner to ensure compliance with the order.

The judge issued the orders today while ruling on a motion for injunction brought by 10 plaintiffs, who are asking the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure, and their loyalists from holding the rally.

The court also held that while the rally cannot stop at the Lekki toll gate, it can pass through the venue to access Falomo Bridge and other venues at which the rally plans to meet.

A preliminary objection filed by the defendants seeking to stop the court from hearing the motion on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction could however not be entertained as all parties to the suit had not been served.

The court adjourned the hearing of the substantive suit to November 4th.

In the suit, 10 plaintiffs through their Romeo Ese Michael, Esq. asked the court to, among others, restrain the LP, its presidential candidate Peter Obi, his vice Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, one Julius Abure, and their loyalists from holding their rally, until the hearing and determination of their Motion-On-Notice of September 12, 2022.

The plaintiffs include Adedotun Ajulo Esq., Salamatu Suleiman Lewi Esq., Hakeem Ijaduola, Esq., Ogunbona Akinpelu Esq., Owolabi K. Oluwasegun, Esq., Mogbojuri Kayode Esq., Wuyep Mantim Nadom Esq., Dimimu Mabel, Esq., Kolawole Salami, Esq. and Mr. Wale Abe Lawrence.

The 1st to 10th defendants are Obi, LP, Baba-Ahmed, Abure, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Commissioner of Police (Lagos State Command), Director-General (Department of State Services), Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Limited, Attorney-General of Lagos State and The Governor of Lagos State.

In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs argued among other things that a repeat or celebration of the “infamous” EndSARS protest of 2020 under the political guise of “#Obidatti23 Forward Ever Rally” will cause a breakdown of peace and will result in post-traumatic stress disorder for them and the public.

Moment Peter Obi Arrived Ooni Of Ife Palace

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Tuesday in Ile Ife, Osun State. Obi was cheered as he entered the palace with the Ooni in the video.

Obi has been meeting with political figures and monarchs across Nigeria ahead of next year’s election.

Atiku, Tinubu, Obi to sign peace pact Thursday

A former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has stated that those contesting the 2023 general elections have to sign a peace pact.

Abubakar, who made this known in Minna on Thursday after a meeting of the committee members, stated that during electioneering, politicians and their supporters create incitements which could endanger the nation’s peace.

“The pattern of public communication among political actors, their publicity agents, spokespersons, and media consultants have amplified the potential for personal attacks, insults, and incitement,” he said.

He added that the attacks by politicians and their supporters on their opponents had moved from issue-based campaigns, thereby relegating civility to the background.

“This has relegated to the background, the civility and decency in public discourse and debate. Additionally, it has shifted focus away from issue-based campaigns to consolidating identity politics and the politics of thuggery,” Abubakar said.

The peace committee chairman added that to promote peaceful electioneering, the committee had organised the signing of a peace pact.

“Because of this, there is a need to promote a culture of healthy issue-based campaigns and political communication. Consequently, the National Peace Committee has organised the signing of two peace accords for the 2023 general elections, ‘’ he said.

Abubakar stated that the first Peace Accord would hold on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, to commit all political parties, presidential candidates and their spokespersons to peaceful political campaigns and rallies devoid of violence, incitement and personal insults, but defined by issues at the heart of national development and progress.

“The second Peace Accord will come up shortly before the elections, and it is intended to commit candidates to accept the outcome of the votes as long as it is adjudged to be free, fair and credible,” Abubakar noted.

He further called on stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria is placed above regional and sectional interests.

“Therefore, the NPC calls on all Nigerians, politicians, political parties, security agencies, the election management body, Independent National Electoral Commission and all stakeholders to ensure that the country is placed above regional and sectional claims.

“The committee reminds all Nigerians the 2023 general elections will be an opportunity to serve and defend Nigeria, and to uphold her unity and progress. Nigerians should avoid the spread of fake news, and uphold the principles of tolerance, respect, civility and decency in all public and private conversations and engagements about the elections and the progress of Nigeria,” he said.

Court dismisses PDP’s suit seeking disqualification of Tinubu and Peter Obi

The opposition party which claimed that the Electoral Act 2022 did not make provision for a “place holder” or temporary running mate, asked the court to declare that Tinubu and Obi be disqualified unless they contest alongside their previous running mates; Kabiru Masari and Doyin Okupe respectively.

In the lawsuit which has INEC, APC, Tinubu, Masari, Labour Party, Obi and Okupe as defendants, the PDP also asked the court to determine if “by the combined interpretation of Section 142(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sections 29(1), 31, 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, the first defendant (INEC) can validly accept any change or substitution of the 4th (Masari) and 7th (Okupe) defendants as running mates of the 3rd (APC) and 6th (Labour Party) defendants”.

Ruling on the case after respondents in the suit challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter, Justice Donatus Okorowo stated that the lawsuit is not within the court’s jurisdiction.

He went on to dismiss the case he said lacks merit and an abuse of court process.

Governor Umahi denies ordering the disruption of Peter Obi’s supporters’ rally in Ebonyi

Governor David Umahi has denied ordering the disruption of Peter Obi’s supporters’ rally in Ebonyi.

It was reported earlier today that the rally organized by the Labour Party presidential candidate’s supporters, was disrupted by policemen who stopped them from moving through the streets.

In a statement released by Umahi’s Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Chooks Oko, it was stated that “relevant government agencies had approved the use of Abakaliki township stadium for a rally by the Labour party subject to the payment of some specified fees, but the organizers chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits.”

Oko added that the police stepped in to restore law and order.

The statement read;

THE GOVERNOR ORDERED NO DISRUPTION

The attention of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State have been drawn to some online publications and rumours making the rounds that he ordered the disruption of a gathering in support of one of the presidential candidates in the 2023 elections. This is not true.

The Executive Governor of Ebonyi state is certainly not aware of any disruption of any gathering as he didn’t order any. He is a democrat who believes firmly in the rule of law.

He wishes every contending politician the very best and will insist on a level playing ground for all. If it is true that the police dispersed people, the answer will surely rest with the police.

For record purposes, the relevant government agencies had approved the use of Abakaliki township stadium for a rally by the Labour party subject to the payment of some specified fees.

Rather than pay the fees, it was gathered, the organizers chose to empty into the streets causing some untold hardships on the hapless citizens going about their daily pursuits.

The police, we are informed, had to step in to restore law and order.The Governor appeals to all citizens to always abide by the dictates of the law and decent living so that law and order will always reign supreme.

He wishes all political parties and their candidates well and enjoins all to play the game by the rules.

Chooks Oko Special Assistant to the Governor(Media & Strategy)

Peter Obi’s Supporters Hold Rally In Plateau

Supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, turned out in great numbers on Saturday for a march in Plateau State ahead of the 2023 election.

Rallies for Obi have been holding at different locations in Nigeria in recent weeks.

Peter Obi visits ex-president Goodluck Jonathan

The presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, visited former president, Goodluck Jonathan, today September 15.

Obi who shared photos from the visit on his official page, said he had a meeting with Jonathan on ”serious national interest questions.”

“I recently visited my senior brother, H.E. @GEJonathan to exchange views on an array of serious national interest questions,” he wrote