Wole Soyinka has alleged that the leadership of the Labour Party knew that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, lost the February 25 election but is trying to force a lie on Nigerians, especially youths, that he won.

Speaking at an event in South Africa, Soyinka said that the LP leadership wanted to mobilize young people to protest against the election’s outcome on the “banner of lies and deceit.”

“They were going to send some of the hardliners, proud young people, into the street to demonstrate. I’m also ready to be among such demonstrators but only on the banner of truth not on lies, and deceit.” 

“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

The Nobel laureate said that the LP leadership was being used by “clandestine forces,” including some former generals, calling for an interim government before the election.

Meanwhile, Soyinka also stated that Obi did not win the election, but he achieved something remarkable

“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 mould. However, he did not win the election. He said.