Peter Obi To Sue People’s Gazzette For ‘Yes Daddy’ Audio

Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, has announced plans to take legal action against an online news medium People’s Gazette and others involved in promoting the fake doctored audio labelled by the news outlet as a telephone conversation between him and Bishop David Oyedepo.

In a statement released on Twitter on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, Mr Obi accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the APC-led government of attempting to manipulate the public with the fake audio.

Obi emphasised that during his campaign, he never campaigned on tribe or religion. Instead, he focused on issues such as creating a new Nigeria characterised by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity.

He expressed gratitude to all Nigerians, particularly the youths and his supporters, for their continued focus on this mission despite the outcome of the February 25, 2023, Presidential Election.

The former presidential candidate also called on concerned Nigerians and the international community to implore the APC and the APC-led government to stop their attacks while stressing his commitment to retrieving his stolen mandate through lawful and peaceful means.

People’s Gazette on Sunday published an audio recording of a purported phone call between Mr Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of the Living Faith Church Worldwide in which Obi appeared to be soliciting political support from the respected cleric.

On Wednesday, the media outlet suspended the journalist who reported the story of the audio for alleged behaviour on social media.

“I continue to thank all Nigerians, especially the youths and the Obidients, as they have remained focused on the core mission of a New Nigeria that is POssible even after the February 25, 2023 presidential election,” Obi began his Twitter thread.

“Before, during, and after the campaign, it is on record that I have maintained my commitment and focus on an issue-based campaign about a New Nigeria that is POssible, a shift of emphasis from consumption to production, a New Nigeria characterised by inclusion, justice, equity, fairness, and prosperity.

“I repeatedly stated that no one should vote for me based on tribe or religion, but rather on the assessment of character, competence, capacity, credibility, and compassion that can be trusted to create a New Nigeria!

“The present attempts by the APC as a party, and the APC led-government through some government officials and agencies to divert our attention from our blatantly stolen mandate is unfortunate and sad.

“These have come and continued to manifest in different ways, such as the malicious accusation of the minister of information, Mr Lai Mohammed, the circulation of a fake doctored audio call, and pressure on me to leave the country.

“Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war.

“The attempts to manipulate Nigerians is very sad and wicked. Our legal team have been instructed to take appropriate legal actions against Peoples Gazette and others.

“While we call on all concerned Nigerians and the International Community to implore the APC and the APC Led-government to stop their nasty attacks, my focus and commitment to lawfully and peacefully retrieve our mandate to secure and unite our nation, take Nigeria from consumption to production, pull millions of Nigerians out of multi-dimensional poverty especially in the North, and jumpstart prosperity through agricultural, industrial, and technological revolution remain unchanged.

“Elections are over, and we are in court to retrieve our stolen mandate. Let me reiterate that we are doing so through all lawful and peaceful options in line with our legal system and constitution, and I continue to implore all Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

“Those fixated with heating up the polity, creating divisions, tensions and hatred within and outside Nigeria should remember that Nigeria is our only country.

“Our focus should be on how to address the litany of challenges facing us, such as: flawed electoral processes, the parlous state of our economy, unsustainable debt burden, lamentable unemployment and inflation, insecurity, and multi-dimensional poverty. A New Nigeria is indeed POssible, and God will help us,” the statement ended.