The Federal Government claims that Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra and the candidate for the Labour Party, lacked the qualifications necessary to triumph in the recently held election because he lacked the clout, influence, and reach necessary for victory in the majority of states in the February 25 presidential election.
The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, said that Obi is “unknown” and despised in 22 states of Nigeria during a news conference on Wednesday in London.
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“For example, the candidate must not only receive the majority of votes, but also one-quarter of all votes cast in at least 25 states of the federation. When you look at the results, only the candidate for the ruling party received all of the votes.
Mohammed added, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, came short of these because he came second and had 25 per cent in 21 states. Obi came far behind with 25 per cent in 15 states. This means that Obi, who was wrongly adjudged as a frontrunner in the election, was virtually unknown and unpopular in 22 states.”
“I also explained to them that many of them were ignorant of the constitutional requirements for a presidential candidate to win an election in Nigeria,” the minister noted.