Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, has tackled Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, over his party’s loss in the just concluded Edo governorship election.

He slammed Obi’s comment about the election, where he described it as a “state capture” that undermines the democratic process and value of Nigeria.

“What happened over the weekend in the name of election in Edo State does not in any way represent the democratic process we chose as a method of electing our political leadership,” Obi said.

On Sunday, September 22, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the gubernatorial election held on Saturday in Edo state.

Okpebholo scored 291,667 votes to defeat Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, who came second with 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s (LP) Olumide Akpata polling 22,763.

The election was speculated to have been marred by vote-buying by some political parties. It was alleged that politicians used bread and cash to buy votes.

However, Omokri criticised Peter Obi for his comment on the Edo election after his candidate, Olumide Akpata was defeated.

He wrote, “Dear Peter Obi,

You lost an election. That is a weakness. But losing your mind because you lost an election elevates your weakness to a wickedness.

Your party scored only 22,763 votes out of approximately half a million votes. You got less than 5% of the total votes cast. Your candidate lost his polling unit, ward, and Local Government Area.

Your candidate was publicly rebuked by the revered Oba of Benin, who scolded him for lying that he was a "son of the palace".

You and your party had no chance of winning or path to victory.

Face facts, Peter. It is over. You lost. You lost fairly. Only your hubris is preventing you from seeing it clearly.

Next time, do not rely on social media polls.

Your party was divided. You, Abure, Apapa and Arabambi were at loggerheads. You and your cronies could not even give an honest account of how you spent monies donated to your campaign.

The optics were terrible for the Labour Party going into the #EdoDecides24. So stop looking for scapegoats. Do not lose your mind as well as the election. Stop crying and start trying.”