Nigeria: Tinubu, Atiku, and Obi
7 March 2023 By Abiodun Kareem Giwa

The election concluded. Bola Tinubu is announced as the winner and followed by Abubakar Atiku, while Peter Obi is in third place. Atiku and Obi have challenged the election of Tinubu.
Obi says he is the election winner. Abubakar is saying the same. They and their supporters say Tinubu rigged them out. However, Atiku has said that Obi could not have won the election because he lacks the structure.
Atiku and Obi have gone to court. They are seeking the nullification of Tinubu's election. But Obi is not seeking the cancellation of Atiku's result being in the second place. Tinubu, too, has lined-up lawyers to defend his election. Curious observers say for Obi to be declared a winner, he must have enough proof that Tinubu and Atiku cheated him out. But Obi is not challenging Atiku.
Obi and his supporters seem to be ignorant of this fact. One needs to be made aware of who is urging who forward here. Obi's supporters were manifestly fired up even before the election. They speak with such assurances their candidate was the anointed angel sent to take Nigeria to the promised land. They remained fired up after the election results.
Obi needs to pull the plug and tell his supporters that he has a long way and an almost impossible route to get into the Aso Villa. If Tinubu's election nullifies, it will favor Atiku. It is like Obi and his supporters are working for Atiku. Obi can only catapult over Atiku unless he has proof that Atiku also cheated. If Obi succeeds against Tinubu, he must still need to contend against Atiku.
There is nothing strange in challenging election results. However, it makes sense for each of the candidates in the tussle to know where they stand.
Presidential election results hardly end in a court of law in civilized countries. A look at the United States shows Al Gore vs. George Bush in the famed Florida recount. When Donald Trump had a shocking victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, most Democrats became election deniers, but they did not challenge the result in a court of law. And when Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020, Trump and his supporters became deniers and attempted a legal challenge, but the courts disfavored them.
The Nigerian case is similar. Obafemi Awolowo challenged the election of Alhaji Sheri Shagari in 1979 but lost out in a court of law. Obi is in the same shoes as Awolowo, popular among youths who desire a change but lack the link to the core North of the country. His party has the spread but needs more to win an election singlehandedly.
But can Obi and his supporters get the entire election canceled for a fresh election?
Obi says he is the election winner. Abubakar is saying the same. They and their supporters say Tinubu rigged them out. However, Atiku has said that Obi could not have won the election because he lacks the structure.
Atiku and Obi have gone to court. They are seeking the nullification of Tinubu's election. But Obi is not seeking the cancellation of Atiku's result being in the second place. Tinubu, too, has lined-up lawyers to defend his election. Curious observers say for Obi to be declared a winner, he must have enough proof that Tinubu and Atiku cheated him out. But Obi is not challenging Atiku.
Obi and his supporters seem to be ignorant of this fact. One needs to be made aware of who is urging who forward here. Obi's supporters were manifestly fired up even before the election. They speak with such assurances their candidate was the anointed angel sent to take Nigeria to the promised land. They remained fired up after the election results.
Obi needs to pull the plug and tell his supporters that he has a long way and an almost impossible route to get into the Aso Villa. If Tinubu's election nullifies, it will favor Atiku. It is like Obi and his supporters are working for Atiku. Obi can only catapult over Atiku unless he has proof that Atiku also cheated. If Obi succeeds against Tinubu, he must still need to contend against Atiku.
There is nothing strange in challenging election results. However, it makes sense for each of the candidates in the tussle to know where they stand.
Presidential election results hardly end in a court of law in civilized countries. A look at the United States shows Al Gore vs. George Bush in the famed Florida recount. When Donald Trump had a shocking victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, most Democrats became election deniers, but they did not challenge the result in a court of law. And when Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020, Trump and his supporters became deniers and attempted a legal challenge, but the courts disfavored them.
The Nigerian case is similar. Obafemi Awolowo challenged the election of Alhaji Sheri Shagari in 1979 but lost out in a court of law. Obi is in the same shoes as Awolowo, popular among youths who desire a change but lack the link to the core North of the country. His party has the spread but needs more to win an election singlehandedly.
But can Obi and his supporters get the entire election canceled for a fresh election?