– Explains Why Peter Obi Lost, Despite Youths’ Support
A US diplomat and accredited foreign observer in the 2023 Presidential Election, Johnnie Carson, has revealed how the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, secured his victory in the just concluded 2023 elections.
Carson made the revelation in Washington DC when the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, paid an official visit to the the United States Institute of Peace, USIP.
The US diplomat, who is an Executive Officer of the USIP, noted that the three factors responsible for Asiwaju’s victory in the election, include money, best workable national organization, and ground game.
His words; “Do you know why he won, he got the money, he had the best national organisation that worked for him and the ground game,’’ he said.
Carson, who co-led National Democratic Institute, NDI, and International Republican Institute, IRI, International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria, during the elections, insisted that Tinubu undoubtedly won the polls and would be sworn-in come May 29, except something happens dramatically with the Court.
He noted that for a candidate to win an election in Nigeria, like a lot of democracy in the globe, the three things, including substantial and significant financial resources were needed.
According to him, other reasons are a national working organisation and a grassroots acceptance.
Speaking specifically on the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Carson said, “on the part of Mr Peter Obi, he did not have the ground game and a national organisation.
“Obi is, however, very popular, particularly among the young, educated, urban and sophisticated.’’
He also admitted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, needed to up its game.
“Nigeria deserves the very best electoral process.
“To me, the problem is not with Tinubu and the other candidates,’’ he concluded.