Obi wanted to take Nigeria's presidency by deceit despite knowing he came third - Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has claimed that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi Obi, knew he came third in the February 25 election.

At an event, Africa in the World, held on Wednesday in South Africa, the Nobel Laureate also claimed that the leadership of the Labour Party were all aware that they came third in the election but wanted to use underhand tactics to be declared winner of the election.

Soyinka has been on war footing with Peter Obi’s supporters after describing them as people who don’t accept corrective criticism. The supporters returned the attack by accusing the intellectual giant of playing selective activism. They say he deliberately overlooked President Tinubu’s unpleasant remarks during the campaigns, while over-playing those of Obi’s camp.

At the Africa in the World event, Soyinka said: “Peter Obi achieved something remarkable in the 2023 elections, in that he broke the mould. However, he did not win the election. I can say categorically that Peter Obi’s party came third, not even second, and the leadership knew it, but they wanted to do what we call ‘Gbajue’, ie the force of lies.”