Atiku said Mr Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, could not have gotten the constitutionally required spread needed to emerge president.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, said Thursday that he believes his former ally turned opponent, Peter Obi, could not have won Saturday's presidential election.

Atiku said Mr Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, could not have gotten the constitutionally required spread needed to be declared president.

Apart from winning majority votes, a candidate is also expected to get 25 per cent of votes in at least 25 states to be declared the winner of the presidential election.

In his speech, Atiku acknowledged that Mr Obi's candidacy denied PDP votes from its traditional strongholds in the South-east and South-south regions but said victory in those regions cannot be sufficient for Mr Obi to be declared president.

Atiku spoke in Abuja at a press conference where he reiterated his party's position to reject the results of the presidential election.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Atiku came second in the election behind APC's Bola Tinubu who emerged as the winner. Mr Obi came third in the election.

Each of the three major candidates, however, won in 12 states while Mr Tinubu was the only one that scored 25 per cent of votes in more than 24 states (he scored it in 30 states), a constitutional requirement to be declared the winner.

Details later...