Abigail ErhiagbojeThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep disappointment on the Supreme Court’s judgment in the appeal filed by its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, against the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Tinubu, as the winner of the February 25 election by INEC.
PDP, in a statement posted on its X account, @OfficialPDPNig said the Supreme Court has failed Nigerians.
The party issued the statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, few hours after the Supreme Court had pronounced its verdict on Thursday.
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The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgment of the Supreme Court in the petition filed by the PDP and the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) @OfficialAPCNg and Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT as winners of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Strikes Out Atiku, Obi’s Appeal Against PEPC Judgment In Favour Of Tinubu
“The PDP and indeed majority of Nigerians are alarmed, disappointed and gravely concerned with the reasoning of the Supreme Court which the PDP believes is against provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, the Guideline and Regulation issued by the INEC under which the election was conducted.”
The opposition party pointed out that the Supreme Court failed to uphold the provisions of the law, rather it squashed the hope of majority of Nigerians who had looked up to it as “a Temple of impartiality to deliver substantial justice in the matter having regards to the laws and facts of the case.”
PDP said that Nigerians had eagerly hoped that the court would uphold and defend the provisions of the 1999 constitution in terms of the qualification and minimum requirement for a winner to be declared in a Presidential election in the country with regards to the required statutory 25% of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as issues of violation of electoral Rules and Guidelines, brazen manipulations and alterations of election results.
Furthermore, it said “Nigerians were at loss as to how the Supreme Court could allow the serious issues of forgery, falsehood and perjury slide based on the altar of technicalities and as such, the effect of the delivery of such verdict was the general gloom, melancholy and sense of despondency which had befallen the country and, it is an ominous sign of eerie situation which portend grave consequences because of the disappointment people have in the judgement.”
“The judgement of the Supreme Court had undoubtedly shaken the confidence that Nigerians had in the judiciary, especially in the Supreme Court being the last hope of the common man,” the party said.
Regardless of the Supreme Court’s judgment, PDP expressed the resolve to not give up in the pursuit of a credible electoral system that can guarantee a legitimate government for the people.
“The PDP remains undeterred and charges Nigerians not to be discouraged or allow the judgement to detract from their collective quest for the entrenchment of a credible electoral system that can guarantee a government that truly derive its legitimacy from the people.”
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