Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has boldly claimed that Peter Obi actually won the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Tonight on Monday, August 11, Lawal questioned the legitimacy of Bola Tinubu’s victory, insisting that the Labour Party candidate deserved the presidency based on the data his team gathered.
Lawal began by stating that, according to the facts he reviewed, Peter Obi secured the majority of votes.
He emphasized that his conclusion did not come lightly, explaining that he and his associates actively monitored the election process.
They collected data from polling units across the country and analyzed the results carefully.
However, Lawal alleged that some of these results changed during transmission or were altered by those handling the tallying process, which impacted the official outcome.
Moreover, Lawal criticized President Bola Tinubu personally, saying the president behaves arrogantly and carries an overinflated sense of self-importance.
He said, “The problem with Bola Tinubu is that he thinks I’m the one who offended him. In reality, I didn’t offend him; he offended me.”
He further remarked that Tinubu acts as though he owns the presidency, but Lawal strongly believes that Tinubu did not actually win the election fairly.
To support his point, Lawal described how his team’s on-the-ground monitoring during the election gave them direct access to results before they reached the official collation centers.
He claimed discrepancies emerged between the original figures and the final numbers announced publicly.
These inconsistencies, according to Lawal, raise serious questions about the election’s credibility.
In addition, Lawal expressed frustration with the current government’s refusal to acknowledge these concerns.
He said this arrogance and refusal to accept criticism deepen the political divide and frustrate many Nigerians who expected transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
When asked what specific offense Tinubu committed against him, Lawal replied without hesitation, “He is arrogant. The guy has an arrogance that defies definition.”
He implied that Tinubu’s attitude reflects a broader problem of entitlement within the political elite, which undermines democracy.
Furthermore, Lawal’s comments echo a wider debate in Nigeria about election integrity and transparency.
Many opposition figures and civil society organizations have raised similar concerns about irregularities during the 2023 polls.
Despite this, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) upheld Tinubu’s victory, a decision some critics view as controversial.
In conclusion, Babachir Lawal’s outspoken criticism of President Tinubu highlights ongoing tensions in Nigerian politics.
By openly declaring that Peter Obi won the election, Lawal fuels the conversation about electoral reforms and the need to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
He calls on the government to listen to Nigerians’ voices and address the grievances that threaten national unity.