The Labour Party has vehemently refuted media reports suggesting the impending arrest of its presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, in connection with an alleged violent attempt to seize political power.
A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh, sought to clarify that Obi had unequivocally rejected any recourse to violence immediately following the announcement of election results, rendering the allegations utterly baseless.
The statement articulated, “The Labour Party has become aware of various circulating narratives in print and video form insinuating the imminent arrest of its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
“These narratives have been overlaid with so-called prophetic calls for prayers on Obi, suggesting an impending arrest. Normally, such narratives might not warrant our attention.
“Nevertheless, we are compelled to address this issue when these concocted narratives are juxtaposed with video clips selectively excerpted from pre-election and campaign speeches, in which Obi passionately conveyed to Nigerian youth the importance of reclaiming our nation.
“The attempt to manipulate these videos, presenting them as recent statements and endeavoring to portray them as current events, is nothing short of malicious, if not criminal. The intent behind this scheme is evidently to fabricate false culpability and entrapment.
“We wish to emphasize, for the record, Obi’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law and his resolute advocacy for non-violent politics.”
“On March 1st, 2023, when INEC officially announced the election results at 4 a.m., supporters of Obi from across the country and abroad pressured him to authorize a mass protest. However, he steadfastly declined, asserting that the process of reclaiming Nigeria through him would be achieved through lawful and peaceful means, not through violence.
“The recent insinuations that Obi is fomenting violence are purely products of the imagination of those responsible, an attempt to tarnish an individual’s reputation unjustly.
“The Labour Party underscores that Obi is not a proponent of violence; rather, he firmly believes that justice must prevail, regardless of the duration.
“As a person of faith, the former Governor of Anambra State firmly believes that a new Nigeria can be realized through due process and does not require mobilizing his supporters to take to the streets to achieve it.