In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the February 25 presidential election, which upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), expressed disappointment and criticized the judgment for prioritizing political expediency over justice. However, Obi, as a democrat, stated that the LP is now ready to take their message of a new Nigeria to the grassroots, hinting at his intention to run for the presidency in 2027.
Obi further proposed a rotational presidency with a single five-year term for each of the country’s six geo-political zones. This proposition deviates from the current two-term tenure of four years each, following the United States democracy model. Obi emphasized that this proposal was part of his campaign, and he would have pushed for a constitutional amendment to limit the president’s term to five years.
This proposal comes in response to a similar suggestion from Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the same election, who called for a constitutional amendment to establish a six-year single term for the president.
Additionally, Obi proposed the implementation of a quasi-system that would allow leaders in office to participate in the legislature concurrently. He also advocated for a mechanism that would hold leaders accountable to the public through regular question-and-answer sessions.
Regarding the Supreme Court judgment, Obi criticized it for disregarding public opinion and accused it of abandoning its role as a court of law and policy. He expressed concerns about the court condoning breaches of the Constitution and undermining established qualifications for presidential candidates. Obi believes that the judgment has inflicted a moral burden on Nigeria’s democracy.
In spite of the setback, Obi stated that the journey towards a new Nigeria has just begun. He expressed appreciation for the support of Nigerian youths and the ‘Obidient’ movement, assuring them that this is not the end but the beginning of their quest for a better future. Obi confirmed his readiness to run for the presidency in 2027.
In response, the Presidency reminded Obi that court judgments are not influenced by public opinion and urged him to congratulate President Tinubu and pledge his support in the spirit of statesmanship. The Presidency welcomed Obi’s commitment to the role of opposition and encouraged him to prepare for another shot at the presidency in 2027.
Meanwhile, Prof Paul Nnamchi, the representative for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, expressed hope for the nation’s judiciary despite the controversy surrounding the election petition tribunal judgments. Nnamchi’s case serves as an example that there is still faith in Nigeria’s judiciary. He urged politicians to seek political offices through the ballot and restore public trust in governance.
In his opinion, Nnamchi expressed confidence in the judicial system and attributed his victory to the support of the people and divine intervention.
