Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has again maintained that he won Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, while saying he would accept defeat in 2027 if the election is conducted transparently and the result reflects the votes cast.
Speaking in a fresh interview with Arise News, Obi questioned the credibility of the 2023 election and criticised the conduct of electoral authorities.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election according to the official results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, has consistently rejected the outcome. He challenged the result in court but his legal appeals were ultimately unsuccessful.
In the interview, Obi said his position ahead of 2027 was not about refusing to accept defeat. Instead, he argued that political leaders should be prepared to accept the outcome of an election when voters are allowed to freely choose their representatives and the process is credible.
He also made allegations concerning the leadership of INEC, claiming that the commission’s chairman had previously worked for individuals or interests aligned with his political opponents.
The allegation, if established, would raise questions about perceived neutrality within Nigeria’s electoral system. However, such claims require evidence and should be distinguished from established findings.
INEC has repeatedly defended its conduct of the 2023 election, while Nigeria’s courts dismissed challenges brought by Obi and other opposition candidates.
The 2027 election is already shaping up as a major political contest, with opposition figures seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to seek another term.
Obi’s comments are likely to reinforce his appeal among supporters who remain convinced that the 2023 election did not reflect the popular vote. His supporters have frequently called for electoral reforms, greater transparency and stronger safeguards against manipulation.
The former Anambra State governor also faces the challenge of turning his 2023 support into a broader national political coalition ahead of the next election.
With Nigeria’s electoral credibility expected to remain a central political issue, Obi’s latest remarks put pressure on INEC and political parties to demonstrate that the 2027 process will be more transparent and trusted by voters.
For Obi, the message is clear: he says he is prepared to accept whatever outcome emerges in 2027, but only if Nigerians can have confidence that the votes are counted accurately and the declared result reflects the will of the electorate.
