*The judgment is unjust
*Bereft of substantial justice
*Utterly falls far short of expectation to restore confidence in election
Atiku Abubakar the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in February 25 election has adduced reasons for rejecting the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) saying it is unjust.
“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 judgment of the court as rendered by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday (Wednesday September 6,2023) failed to restore confidence in our dreams of free and fair elections devoid of human manipulations.”
The former Vice President said that he instructed his lawyers to file the petition
challenging the outcome of the presidential election because his ultimate goal was to ensure that democracy is further strengthened
through the principles and processes of fair hearing.
Berating the PEPC and labelling its judgment as unjust, he said: “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 judgment of the court
yesterday is respected, it is a judgment that I refuse to
accept.
”I refuse to accept the judgment 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.”
Stating his resolve to challenge the judgment, the PDP candidate 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.”
Atiku put it on record that “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.”
He urged his supporters and party members not to despair, but to remain
steadfast. “I urge them to take solace in an immortal lesson I learned from my leader and mentor, the late Shehu Yar’Adua, that losing a battle
is less important than losing the war.We might have lost a battle yesterday, but the war is well ahead of us. And I believe that with our hopes in God, we shall win the war of restoring confidence in our
electoral system,” he said