Dear Mr. Peter Obi,

I hope this letter finds you well in spite of the unfortunate outcome of the recent election. I know it is disheartening to have lost the election, but I want you to know that all hope is not lost. Just because INEC has announced a winner doesn’t mean defeat. There are several examples from the past where rigged elections were cancelled, and the real winner was declared president.

One such example is the 2007 Presidential election in Kenya, where Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner despite the clear evidence of vote-rigging. However, due to the efforts of civil society groups and the international community, a power-sharing agreement was reached between Kibaki and his opponent, Raila Odinga. Similarly, in Ghana, the opposition party challenged the results of the 2012 Presidential election, leading to a Supreme Court decision that nullified some of the votes and declared John Dramani Mahama the winner.

What about Gambia? President Yahya Jammeh refused to step down after losing the 2016 election to Adama Barrow. However, the international community and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened, and Jammeh eventually agreed to step down, paving the way for Barrow’s inauguration.

We should also take inspiration from the peaceful protests that led to the ousting of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The Sudanese people took to the streets and demanded change, and eventually, Bashir was removed from power.

These examples show that there is hope for justice even in the face of election rigging. We must fight for our right to choose our own leader and hold INEC accountable for their role in denying us that right.

It’s shameful that INEC has allowed this to happen, they denied us the chance to choose our own leader, but we must not give up.

In times like these, we can look to the Bible for inspiration and hope. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God intervening in politics and fighting for the oppressed. For example, in the book of Exodus, God heard the cries of the Israelites who were oppressed by the Egyptians, and he sent Moses to lead them out of slavery. In the book of Esther, God used Queen Esther to save the Jewish people from genocide.

We too must have faith that God will intervene on our behalf. We must pray for wisdom and strength to continue to fight for what is right. We must not give up hope, for God is on the side of the oppressed.

So, let us continue to fight for justice and democracy in our country. Let us not be discouraged by this setback, but let us be encouraged by the examples of those who have come before us and succeeded in overturning rigged elections. Let us have faith that God will fight for us, and let us never give up hope.

Sincerely,

A Frustrated Nigerian Youth.

Dr. Lucky D. Udu