Supreme Court: Atiku asked to congratulate Tinubu

The Presidency has urged the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to congratulate President Bola Tinubu over his victory in the February 25 presidential election.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the remark in response to Atiku’s defeat at the Supreme Court.

Posting on X, Onanuga stressed that Atiku’s quest to displace Tinubu and emerge Nigeria’s President has failed.

“Supreme Court has spoken: Atiku’s so-called new evidence runs foul of the Electoral Act and the Constitution. It’s all over for the PDP presidential candidate. The Waziri should write his long-delayed congratulatory message to his old friend.”

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed Atiku’s appeal challenging Tinubu’s victory.

The seven-man panel dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit after it resolved all seven issues raised for determination in favour of the respondents.

Justice John Okoro who read the lead judgment subsequently affirmed the judgment of the presidential election tribunal which, on September 6, affirmed Tinubu’s election as President.

“On the whole there is no merit in this appeal and it is hereby dismissed.

“The judgment of the court below is hereby affirmed”, Okoro held.

The apex court also declined to accept fresh evidence from Atiku to prove that Tinubu forged the academic certificate he submitted to INEC for the 2023 presidential election.