[b]By Wale Odunsi[/b]

The admiration for banker-turned-politician Peter Obi and his impact in the 2023 general elections has elevated the Labour Party, LP, to the third force in Nigeria.

Although the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate was the second runner-up in the February 25 poll, Obi was arguably the most popular despite running against veterans with agelong ambition.

The impressive showing of the LP distorted a seeming established order where only two parties dominated presidential, governorship and state elections.

Obi’s followers have become the main opposition, with more Nigerians demanding leaders to be accountable, showing interest in politics, voting, and other national matters.

The wave charged millions to register and collect Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, a commitment that made the LP perform well in 12 states, including those the ‘big parties’ dominated for years.

Obi’s victory in Lagos State confirmed residents preferred him to ‘landlord’ Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Tinubu was declared President-elect on March 1 after scoring 8,794,726 votes; Atiku got 6,984,520 votes, while Obi polled 6,101,533 votes. Opposition agents protested at the national collation centre in Abuja.

They cited over-voting, manipulation of results, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System malfunctioning, and the widespread violence condemned by local and international observers.

More than 90 million citizens were expected to vote at 176,846 polling units, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Obi revolution, backed by youth-led ‘Obidients’ whom rivals characterise as ‘mob’, played to the advantage of LP candidates across the nation.

In Kaduna, a commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider), Donatus Mathew was declared winner of the House of Representatives seat for Kaura federal constituency.

In Eti-Osa federal constituency election in Lagos, LP’s Thaddeus Attah defeated PDP’s Bankole Wellington (Banky W), and Babajide Obanikoro of the APC.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe won the Senate seat, defeating PDP’s Philip Aduda. To put differently, a female politician retired Aduda, who remained unshaken even after the APC triumph in 2015 and 2019.

In Abia, a former bank chief Alex Otti is the Governor-elect, after failing under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the last two general elections.

In Enugu, the LP lost the governorship election just by about 3,000 votes. Chijioke Edeoga, who is the party’s candidate, is now before the tribunal seeking justice over the alleged stolen mandate.

Furthermore, the LP now occupies eight senatorial and over 30 House of Representatives positions, meaning it would be the third in rank when the 10th National Assembly commences.

Going by the current form, the party is expected to benefit from defections while its flagbearers will be among the frontrunners in Anambra, Bayelsa, and Imo governorship elections.

Meanwhile, Obi is at the tribunal after rejecting the results, claiming he scored 25 percent of votes in at least 24 states, and that Tinubu was not qualified to run.

In an interview Sunday night, LP Presidential Campaign Organization spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko assured that the momentum would be sustained.

“We are the third force. The next thing is building a formidable team that will change the narrative. Nigerians should expect something different because the party is ideology-based,” he said.

On the case at the tribunal, the chieftain accused Tinubu of time-wasting, lamenting how difficult it was to serve him the court papers.

“They had been running from pillar to post to avoid being served but we have done that through the party and are ready for proceedings,” Tanko told DAILY POST

https://dailypost.ng/2023/04/03/nigeria-elections-how-obi-popularity-propelled-lp-into-third-force/

That’s is a political icon. Only few can achieve such height

With God all things are possible

Until our stolen mandate is returned, we will not rest!

They think it's playing.

Whatever you're seeing from PDAPC are the last kicks of antique horses. Never again shall we harbour mediocrity.

Of course, they'd always say we will go silent again until next four years..before nko? How else will we pay our bills? BMCs earn 30k to keep sharing copy and paste propaganda; they've passed the baton to agbado ninjas to carry on. They feed off the corrupt politicians. They can afford to be useless to the labour market.

Not us; We're just the average citizens feeding off the work of our hands. We are driving this bus ourselves to make our honest efforts have better values. We won't always be here to counter your propaganda but we'd always be here representing the regular Nigerian who wants a better Nigeria for us and for all.

Nigerians needed to go from consumption to production hence the support for Peter Obi but what I found funny was Nigerians whom have witnessed the worst of buhari still believed that buhari could conduct credible elections.

Nigerians believing in bvas from buhari after 8 years of total failure is amazing, amusing and pathetic.

Peter Obi is the Game changer..

Hit like for the man of the People.

Dey play. APC is the third force

Not a third force but a winning force and we will proves it in the court





Surely, old things shall pass away and everything become new


#anewNigeriaispossible

plus people are tired of the old ways

Obi is not any third force please... 😌



Obi is the force itself which others are trying to catch-up with.


ObiDatti is coming!

LP really tried for paving way for APC wining and making it possible for the ruling party to continue.

Children of hate won't like dis news

Is there any former Governor or elected politician present and past that is as clean and spotless as President Obi, anyone?!

Despite all the scrutiny and propaganda machines of APC all they could find are doctored private conversation of Obi and Oyedepo, good Lord I'm still amazed they can't find anything wrong or bad about President Peter Obi...is that the best APC can do

Please is there any politician that has once held a public of in Nigeria that can pass all dis huddle and loops, please gimme a name, anybody??

More like the case of the first been the last and the last been the first..

I need old inactive fiverr seller account send me a WhatsApp message through the number on my signature

Our mandate must be reclaimed. Falz finish work for that his song Mr Yakubu.

Ok

A completely free and fair election in Nigeria devoid of voter intimidation and the rest would surely had seen LP at the number.

#MyOpinion though

Yawl aint seen nothin yet!

Wait until you see the kind of stiff opposition LP will provide over the next 4 years not the kind of lukewarm opposition we got from PDP over the last 8 years.

Like Obama said Democracy is not just about elections but the days in between elections.

Awon third force...

Nwaetche:
[b]By Wale Odunsi[/b]


https://dailypost.ng/2023/04/03/nigeria-elections-how-obi-popularity-propelled-lp-into-third-force/

Obi, A Religious and Tribal Bigot

Mr Yakubu (INEC chairman) challenge in tiktok YouTube, facebook & twitter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZI7jXhzXlc&feature=share&themeRefresh=1

Decent09:




Obi, A Religious and Tribal Bigot

Mumu talk. Stop playing the religious and tribal card.
Can Nigerians or the Igbos give such support to people like orji uzor kalu, rochas okorocha, ekweremadu etc? Are they not Igbos and christians?

Obi is a man of integrity and accountability, and that's why he enjoys the support of Nigerians

Our mandate is all we ask

Obi na real mumu man. He only succeeded in dividing PDP vote thus paving way for Asiwaju. Between Obi and his supporters, I no know who mumu pass.