LP leadership knew Obi lost 2023 presidential election- Soyinka

The Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, has accused the Labour Party of attempting to deceive Nigerians about the outcome of the February 25 election outcome.

Soyinka made this declaration on Wednesday, during an event titled “The Lives of Wole Soyinka — A Dialogue”, organised by Africa in the World, in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

He said the leadership of the party are aware that their Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, didi not win the election but was trying to force “a lie” on Nigerians, especially youths, that Obi won the election.

When asked to comment on his previous statement on the LP vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, after the general election, Soyinka said he is committed to the truth.

He said in 1965, when he invaded a radio station in Ibadan, he was armed with facts and not relying on third-hand accounts regarding the 1965 regional election.

He further accused the LP of infiltrating the organised labour movement in the build-up to the 2023 election.

He also stated that Obi achieved “something remarkable” by breaking the monopoly of power established by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“This recent election – two things happened first of all. One party took over the labour movement, which is not my favourite movement, and then it became a regional party.

“Whereas it was a marvellous breach into the established two camps. Peter Obi achieved something remarkable there, that he broke that mold. 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 want to do what we call in Yoruba ‘gbajue’, that is force of lies.” He said