The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, says he is being pressured to leave the country and is facing attacks from various quarters. In a statement posted to his Twitter account on Wednesday night, Obi denied that a leaked audio conversation with Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, was genuine, calling it a doctored fake.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, referenced recent remarks by Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the APC‑led government of trying to “divert our attention from our blatantly stolen mandate.” He described these efforts as “unfortunate and sad,” noting that they have manifested in several ways: malicious accusations by the Minister of Information, the circulation of the fake audio, and pressure on him to leave Nigeria.
He reiterated that the circulated audio is false and that, throughout the campaign and thereafter, he never said, thought, or implied that the 2023 election was or had been a religious war. Obi vowed to take legal action against the online news platform that shared the audio, stating that his campaign has always focused on issue‑based policies for a new Nigeria—shifting emphasis from consumption to production and promoting inclusion, justice, equity, fairness and prosperity. He emphasized repeatedly that no one should vote for him based on tribe or religion.
“The attempts to manipulate Nigerians are very sad and wicked,” Obi said, adding that his legal team has been instructed to pursue appropriate actions against Peoples Gazette and others. He called on Nigerians and the international community to urge the APC and the APC‑led government to cease their attacks. Obi affirmed his commitment to lawfully and peacefully retrieve the party’s mandate to secure and unite the nation. “Elections are over, and we are in court to retrieve our stolen mandate,” he said, stressing that the pursuit will follow all lawful and peaceful avenues provided by the legal system and constitution, and urging all Nigerians to remain peaceful and law‑abiding.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed warned that Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba‑Ahmed, could face treason prosecution for statements made after the February 25 presidential election, alleging that the duo were inciting people over the poll’s outcome.
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