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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his disagreement with the decision of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) which upheld Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 2023 election.
On Wednesday, the court dismissed Atiku’s petitions, as well as those of his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Despite this setback, the flagbearer of the main opposition party remains resolute and has directed his legal team to pursue an appeal against the verdict.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I want to emphasize that the recent ruling by the court of first instance in this case has fallen significantly short of our expectations. I stand before you today to express my unequivocal disagreement with the court’s judgment handed down yesterday. While I respect the court’s decision, I must assert that I cannot accept it due to my firm belief that it lacks the essence of substantial justice.
Nevertheless, I want to make it clear that this disappointment in the court’s verdict will not diminish my unwavering trust in the integrity of our judiciary,” he stated during a press conference on Thursday.
“As a result, I have instructed my legal team to initiate the process of exercising my constitutionally guaranteed right to appeal to the higher court, which in this instance is the Supreme Court. It is my sincere conviction that the electoral process in Nigeria should remain free from any undue manipulations, ensuring that the results of every election accurately reflect the will of the people.”
“I firmly believe that this is the only path through which our democracy can genuinely manifest its true essence. Whether I succeed in this endeavor or not, the legacy of my tireless efforts to secure transparent elections in Nigeria will endure for future generations to assess,” he emphasized.
His party had previously contested the Tribunal’s decision, stating that it would seek legal counsel to determine the next steps.
In the election, Atiku secured the second position but maintains that he emerged as the rightful winner, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declaring Tinubu as the victor.
