Obi was not rigged out in 2023, says Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, has stated that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not have emerged president even if he had secured 10 million votes in the 2023 election.

Speaking on Edmund Obilo’s State Affairs podcast, Mohammed dismissed claims that Obi was rigged out, insisting that the Labour Party candidate neither won the election nor posed the biggest challenge in the contest.

He recalled that following the polls, questions were raised about the credibility of the process, particularly on social media where many supporters claimed victory for Obi. According to him, his team engaged think tanks and international media outlets in the US and UK to clarify why Obi could not have won under Nigeria’s constitutional requirements.

Mohammed explained that to be declared president under the Nigerian Constitution, a candidate must secure the highest number of votes and at least 25 per cent of votes in two-thirds of the states. He noted that Obi finished third behind Atiku Abubakar, having scored 25 per cent in 15 states, while Atiku achieved the threshold in 21 states. He added that Bola Ahmed Tinubu met both conditions, recording the majority of votes and 25 per cent in 29 states.

Mohammed further argued that Obi was not the primary contender in the race and suggested that had he remained aligned with Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might have won the election.