Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the recently concluded General Election, has criticized the call made by US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, to President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Obi urged that the court should decide the legitimate president of Nigeria, expressing his disagreement with Blinken's call.

Obi shared his thoughts on Twitter, responding to the conversation between Tinubu and Blinken. The call has sparked reactions from opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described it as demoralizing.

Obi emphasized that the US should wait for the resolution of ongoing judicial processes before conferring legitimacy on any party.

“It is thus of overarching importance that a beacon of democracy like the United States should not respond to political developments in Nigeria in a manner that faintly suggests taking sides.

“The final determination of the true winner of the election can only be made by the relevant courts of law,” he added.

“The most fundamental tenet and core value of democracy is the rule of law.

“Nigeria’s democracy is founded on these principles which the American people hold dear. Without the risk of interfering in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, the U.S.-Nigeria relationship should be guided by the core values of democracy.

“Above all, Nigerians expect that the US responses to our affairs should be based on mutual respect, shared ideals, aspirations and interests which ought to transcend the considerations of any individual,” Obi wrote.

The former Anambra governor added that the “willful manipulation and falsification of the will of Nigerians as freely expressed during the February 25 elections cannot be overlooked by the true friends and partners of Nigeria.” 

“More so, the issues in judicial contention imply far-reaching violations of both the Nigerian Electoral Law and the Nigerian Constitution,” he maintained.