I will fight Tinubu till the end – Atiku breaks silence on tribunal judgement

Former Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has vehemently opposed the verdict delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT). The tribunal’s ruling, which took place on Wednesday, dismissed the petition brought forth by Atiku and his Labour Party (LP) ally, Peter Obi, challenging the election victory of President Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25th election.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Haruna Tsammani and comprised of other esteemed members, including justices Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Stephen Adah, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed, declared that the petitions filed by the candidates and their respective parties lacked merit. Consequently, they upheld President Tinubu’s election victory.

Reacting swiftly, Atiku called a press conference in Abuja on Thursday to express his unwavering dissent regarding the verdict. He boldly declared his intention to continue the battle to overturn Tinubu’s victory through legal means, characterizing himself as a relentless fighter. Atiku disclosed that he had already instructed his legal team to initiate an appeal at the Supreme Court.

In his statement, Atiku asserted, “I am here today to give my official reaction to the judgement delivered yesterday by the Presidential Election Petition Court on the 2023 presidential elections. As you already know, I approached the court following the declaration by the INEC that the APC and its candidate are the winners of the February 25 elections. My decision to go to court was anchored in my belief that the court is the sanctuary of justice.”

He continued, “Indeed, I am no stranger to legal battles. 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 will continue to fight. Our aim of conducting credible elections in the country was compromised by INEC through the way it managed the presidential election. I am afraid that the judgement of the PEPT yesterday failed to restore confidence in our dream of free and fair elections devoid of human manipulation. I am here to tell you that though the judgement of the court yesterday is respected, it is a judgement that I refused to accept. I refuse to accept it because I believe it is devoid of substantial justice. I have asked my lawyers to constitutionally activate the guaranteed right to appeal in the higher court.”