Atiku Abubakar Rejects PEPT Verdict, Vows to Continue Legal Battle.
In a bold and resolute response to the recent verdict by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), former Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has rejected the tribunal’s decision to uphold the election of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The tribunal’s ruling, which was delivered on Wednesday, struck out the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Haruna Tsammani and comprising other members, cited a lack of merit in the petitions as the basis for upholding President Tinubu’s victory.
In response to the verdict, Atiku Abubakar held a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, where he unequivocally rejected the outcome and announced his determination to continue the legal battle by filing an appeal at the Supreme Court.
Addressing the media, Atiku stated, “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.” He added, “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.
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Atiku expressed his concerns about the integrity of the election process, emphasizing that the aim of conducting credible elections in the country was compromised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its management of the presidential election.
While acknowledging the respect for the court’s judgement, Atiku asserted, “I refuse to accept it because I believe it is devoid of substantial justice.” He made it clear that he had instructed his legal team to activate the right to appeal in the higher court, signaling his determination to pursue the legal avenue to seek redress.
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Atiku Abubakar’s rejection of the PEPT verdict sets the stage for what promises to be a protracted legal battle, further underlining the significance of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic process and the commitment of political leaders to uphold their beliefs through legal means.