In a statement released on Sunday, Ambassador Tony Chiemelu Obizoba, Director General of Implementation and Strategic Planning for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide, declared that the group does not believe that the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will become President in 2023, as it is not destined to happen. 

The group also congratulated Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress candidate, on his victory in the presidential election held on February 25, 2023, and expressed confidence in his ability to continue the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari when he assumes office on May 29, 2023.

The statement acknowledged Peter Obi’s hard work and commitment to changing the status quo with an unpopular political party, resulting in a remarkable performance in the election. However, the group believes that it was not meant to be in 2023, although it may happen in the future.

The statement also congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on his second-place finish, and emphasized that the bloc votes for Peter Obi in the South East should not be seen as anti-other Nigerians but rather as Nigerians exercising their right to vote.

The group also called on some elements in Lagos State to stop threatening the lives of Igbo people because of their support for Peter Obi, emphasizing that the vote in Lagos was not solely an Igbo thing but a decision by a rainbow movement of people from various tribes who live and do business in Lagos.

Finally, the statement praised the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Service for their neutrality in the election and called on them to improve their performance for the governorship and national assembly elections of March 11, 2023.