Days after formal processes commenced at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), one of the challengers Peter Obi has hinted he may be throwing in the towel by publicly declaring his intention to give the presidency another shot in the future, seeing as the last attempt ended in failure.
He made the declaration on Friday at a book launch where he reflected on his unsuccessful bid in the last presidential election.
“I must be president of this country. If it is not today, it must be tomorrow,” Obi said in a resigned tone contrary to the absolute conviction displayed in the initial days after the election.
His sombre tone and humility may have been informed by recent setbacks, the latest of which is a court ruling affirming rival faction led by Lamidi Apapa as the authentic leader of the Labour Party. The ruling places Obi’s legitimacy in the election as a candidate in great jeopardy and may render his petition at the tribunal an exercise in futility.
Also, the former Anambra governor is yet to recover from the reputational damage he suffered with the leak of his conversation with popular cleric, Bishop David Oyedepo, during which he called for a ‘religious war’ and his arrest at the Heathrow airport in London over reported involvement in criminal activities.