The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has urged the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, not to pursue an appeal following the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s (PEPT) decision to uphold President Bola Tinubu’s victory. Umahi expressed his belief that Obi would not succeed in his appeal, given the tribunal’s verdict.
On Wednesday, September 6, the tribunal dismissed Peter Obi’s petition, citing its lack of merit. The following day, Obi publicly rejected the judgment and stated his intention to appeal.
Speaking to reporters in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, on Saturday, September 9, Umahi implored Obi to reconsider his decision to appeal, asserting that the Supreme Court would likely also rule against him.
Umahi remarked, “Throughout the campaign period and even now, I have been saying boldly that God revealed to me that Tinubu would become the President of Nigeria. Despite the challenges we faced in the South East, I am delighted that Tinubu eventually emerged as the President of our country. As I previously stated in Imo State, God has a purpose for everyone. There was John the Baptist, there was Christ, and now there is still Christ. Peter Obi has fulfilled the role of John the Baptist for the Divine President Bola Tinubu Ahmed during this time.
Therefore, I advise him not to pursue an appeal. While I am not a lawyer, our state’s Governor is a lawyer, and he has analyzed the judgment, concluding that there is no viable basis for an appeal. These judges meticulously examined every aspect of the case, much like dissecting a coconut to extract the water and the nut.
I encourage him not to proceed with the appeal process. He did not even secure the second position; he finished in third place in the election. Peter Obi is our brother, and it’s time for South Eastern people to unite in support of President Tinubu. He appointed me as the number one Minister, even when our region didn’t vote as strongly for him.
Nonetheless, our region still cast more votes for him than other regions because, through the efforts of ‘John the Baptist,’ we were able to defeat the PDP. This is a victory for the APC.”
