The presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed dissatisfaction with Wednesday’s judgement by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), and indicated hus desire to appeal at the Supreme Court.
Atiku, who addressed a world press conference to declare his decision to go to the Supreme Court, said the judgement was fundamentally flawed.
According to Atiku, “My decision to go to court is anchored in my belief that the court is the sanctuary of justice. The journey of my political career, as you know, holds so much to the courage and fearless decisions of our judiciary.
“Indeed, I am no stranger to legal battles, and I can say that I have a fair idea of how the court system works. All through my career as a politician, I have been a fighter, and I must say that I have found the judiciary as a worthy pillar to rest on in the pursuit of justice.
“The last presidential election in our country and the way it was managed by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, leaves behind unenviable precedents, which I believe the courts have a duty to redress.
“Our gains in ensuring transparent elections through the deployment of technology was heavily compromised by INEC in the way it managed the last presidential election, and I am afraid that the judgement of the court, as rendered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, yesterday (Wednesday), failed to restore confidence in our dreams of free and fair elections devoid of human manipulations.
“Like I did say at the beginning of this legal battle, when I instructed my lawyers to file my petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election, my ultimate goal in this pursuit is to ensure that democracy is further strengthened through the principles and processes of fair hearing.
“I take great pains to tell you that the decision of the court of first instance on this matter utterly falls far short of that expectation. I am, therefore, here to tell you that, though the judgement of the court yesterday (Wednesday) is respected, it is a judgement that I refuse to accept.
“I refuse to accept the judgement because I believe that it is bereft of substantial justice. However, the disappointment in the verdict of the court can never destroy my confidence in the judiciary.”
Atiku said, “Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which, in the instance, is the Supreme Court.
“It is my conviction that the electoral process in Nigeria should be devoid of untidy manipulations and that the outcome of every election should be a perfect reflection of the wishes of the electorate. I believe that such is the only way through which our democracy can have a manifest expression of its true meaning.
“Whether I prevail in this quest or not, the record of my effort in ensuring an order of credible elections in Nigeria shall remain for the future generations to evaluate.”
Similarly, the acting national chairman of PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, said, “The judgement of the PEPT, which came out yesterday, left lovers of democracy in and outside the country, more confused with a lot of questions whether the Nigerian constitution, Electoral Act, and other laws guiding the conduct of credible election in our country are still functional.
“Close observation from the faces of Nigeria across the country show hopelessness and despair since the pronouncement of the judgement. Lawyers, politicians and other stakeholders from all divides were left confused, as both law and facts were visibly thrown overboard.
“As a law abiding political party, we receive the judgement with shock along with other Nigerians. Members should, however, not lose focus or be distracted.”
Damagum announced the reactivation of the national campaign committee of the party in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja
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