By DAYO ADESULU
September 11, 2026 | Politics
Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has renewed his claim that he won the 2023 presidential election, alleging that former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, worked against his electoral victory.
Obi also claimed that he possesses evidence to support his allegation against the former electoral commission chairman.
He made the comments during an interview on Arise TV while discussing the disputed 2023 presidential election and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Obi: ‘We Took INEC for Granted in 2023’
According to Obi, Nigerians trusted INEC’s assurances ahead of the 2023 election and believed the commission would deliver a credible electoral process.
He argued that the experience should serve as a lesson ahead of the 2027 elections.
“In 2023 we took things for granted, we believed the INEC, we believed that what they were saying they would do because the chairman then was travelling all over the world, telling the world that he and his team were prepared to do the right thing, when he was actually working for the opposite,” Obi said.
The former governor said voters should not depend solely on assurances from electoral officials in the next election.
Instead, he called for greater vigilance by Nigerians to ensure that the electoral process works as expected.
“This time we will only trust them by doing the right thing by ourselves,” he said.
‘Yes, Of Course, I Have Proof’
During the interview, Obi was specifically asked whether he had evidence to substantiate his allegation that Yakubu worked against him during the 2023 presidential election.
He responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, of course,” Obi said.
When pressed to explain the nature of the evidence, Obi maintained that the alleged irregularities were known to people involved in conducting the election, including Yakubu himself.
“Everybody knows, even him (Yakubu) knows. I am sure if you meet him, he knows in his heart that he did the wrong thing,” Obi said.
However, Obi did not publicly present or detail specific evidence during the interview to independently establish the allegation.
His comments therefore remain an allegation by the former presidential candidate and should be viewed in that context.
Peter Obi Repeats Claim That He Won 2023 Election
Obi also reiterated his long-standing position that he actually won the 2023 presidential election, despite INEC’s official declaration placing him third.
INEC declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner, ahead of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi.
Tinubu was declared president-elect after securing the highest number of votes in the official results announced by the electoral commission.
Obi and Atiku challenged the outcome through legal proceedings. However, their challenges ultimately failed, and the declared result stood.
Asked how he could continue to claim victory despite the substantial difference between the official figures recorded for him and those of Tinubu and Atiku, Obi dismissed the significance of the margin.
“Yes, I won the election,” he said.
“Forget about the margins, everybody, those who conducted the election, the officials know they did the wrong thing,” he added.
Obi Says He Has Moved On From 2023
Despite his continuing criticism of the 2023 electoral process, Obi indicated that he does not intend to dwell on his past confrontation with Yakubu.
When asked whether he had personally met the former INEC chairman regarding the issue, Obi said he did not want to pursue the matter further.
“I don’t want to, that is past,” he said.
He added: “Those who think about yesterday and today will miss tomorrow. For me it is gone, it is finished.”
The statement suggests that Obi’s immediate political focus is now on the future, particularly the 2027 election.
2027 Election: Electoral Integrity Takes Centre Stage
Obi’s comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls increasingly position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The credibility of the electoral process is expected to remain a major campaign issue, particularly following the controversies that surrounded the 2023 election.
Questions surrounding electronic transmission of results, the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), polling-unit results and the independence of electoral institutions are likely to feature prominently in the political debate.
For Obi and his supporters, the 2023 experience remains a defining issue. For the electoral authorities and political opponents, however, any fresh allegations will require credible evidence and scrutiny.
Why This Matters
The dispute over the 2023 presidential election continues to shape Nigeria’s political conversation ahead of 2027. Obi’s renewed claim that he won the election, coupled with his assertion that he has proof against the former INEC chairman, could reignite debates about electoral transparency and accountability.
More importantly, his warning that Nigerians should not simply rely on assurances from electoral officials places public participation and election monitoring at the heart of the 2027 conversation.
FAQs
Did Peter Obi win the 2023 presidential election officially?
No. INEC officially declared Bola Tinubu the winner. Obi finished third in the announced results.
Did Obi challenge the 2023 presidential election result?
Yes. Obi challenged the result in court, but his legal challenge was unsuccessful.
What did Obi allege about Mahmood Yakubu?
Obi alleged that Yakubu, who was INEC chairman during the 2023 election, worked against him despite publicly assuring the international community that INEC was prepared to conduct a credible election.
Did Obi provide the evidence during the interview?
He said he had evidence when asked directly, but he did not publicly present detailed evidence supporting the allegation during the portion of the interview described above.
What is Obi’s position on the 2027 election?
Obi stressed that Nigerians must be more actively involved in protecting the integrity of the electoral process rather than relying solely on assurances from electoral officials.
Conclusion
Peter Obi has once again asserted that he won Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, while accusing former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu of working against his candidacy.
Although Obi says he has evidence to support the allegation, he did not disclose detailed proof during the interview. The official 2023 result remains that Bola Tinubu won the election, while Obi’s legal challenge was unsuccessful.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Obi’s latest remarks are likely to add fresh momentum to the debate over electoral credibility, INEC’s independence and the responsibility of Nigerian voters to protect the integrity of the democratic process.
But what evidence does Obi have?
And with 2027 approaching, can Nigerians trust the electoral process again?
What do you think? 👇
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