Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday rejected the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
He said the tribunal’s ruling failed to restore confidence.
“Though the judgment of yesterday is respected, it is a judgement I refused to accept. I refused to accept the judgment because I believe it is bereft of substantial justice,” Atiku said while addressing a world press conference at the PDP headquarters in Abuja.”
Reports indicate that the tribunal dismissed the case of Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, as well as his counterpart from the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and confirmed Tinubu’s victory.
Both Atiku and Obi have contested the tribunal’s decision on Wednesday that upheld Tinubu’s election. Kehinde Edun, the Legal Adviser to the Labour Party, expressed determination to appeal the judgment at the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, Chris Uche, SAN, Atiku’s Lead Counsel, stated that he has been directed by his client to initiate an appeal at the Supreme Court.
He said “The judgment has been delivered but we have not received justice. Luckily, the law has given us leverage to go on appeal to the Supreme Court. We have instructions from our clients to go to the Supreme Court. The struggle continues.”
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), which began its sitting at 9:40 AM at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, unanimously dismissed the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, and Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, upholding the victory of Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The panel of five members each had their chance to reject the petitions filed by Atiku and Obi contesting the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Tinubu as the victor of the presidential election on March 1, 2023.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, the chairman of the tribunal, delivered the judgment, which was supported by the other members of the panel: Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed.
But in a press conference on Thursday, Atiku said he is no stranger to legal challenges and will continue to pursue legal avenues for respite.
“However, the disappointment in the verdict of the court can never destroy my confidence in the judiciary.”
“Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which in this instance, is the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”