Afenifere Supports Peter Obi’s Challenge of INEC’s Declaration of Tinubu as Winner in 2023 Presidential Election

The Afenifere, a Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, has insisted that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, won the February 25, 2023 elections. At their monthly general meeting held at the residence of their leader, Chie Ayo Adebanjo, in Ogun state on March 28, the group expressed their disapproval of the declaration made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement released by legal practitioner Dele Farotimi and signed by Afenifere leader, Pa Adebanjo and its Secretary General, Sola Ebiseni, the group declared that for equity, fairness, national cohesion and peaceful corporate existence, the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be someone from the southern part and specifically the South-East. The Afenifere also condemned the campaigns of calumny and acts of ethnic violence deployed by some politicians and their hired criminal gangs in several parts of the federation during the gubernatorial election. Furthermore, they received a message credited to Chief Emmanuel Iwunayanwun in a viral video alleging indictment of the Yoruba as political rascals on account of ethnic violence deployed by politicians of the ruling party in Lagos State. The Afenifere assured all persons resident in Yorubaland, indigenes and non-indegenes, of protection in the conduct of their lawful duties and warned all threats mongers and merchants of violence to desist therefrom. They also expressed their belief in the judiciary as an integral part of the democratic process and called on the President and Government of Nigeria to restore the patriotic confidence and hope of the Nigerian people in the continued corporate existence of the federation. Finally, they appreciated the genuine and renewed interests of the international community in the security and democratic health of Nigeria.