2023: Uncertainty as Atiku goes to court over Tinubu’s victory
*Says PDP ready for alliance with Obi’s LP
*As ex-Vice President says seeking judicial redress ‘not about me’
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“I want to believe that this was not the legacy that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised. For President Buhari, it is not too late to make amends for the good of our country and the future generations and indeed to assure his legacy.”
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate in the last Saturday February 25, 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has conveyed his party’s preparedness and readiness to form an alliance with Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP).
Atiku disclosed this while speaking during a press conference broadcast live in Abuja and monitored in Lagos by The DEFENDER, on Thursday, while also vowing to go to court to reclaim what he believes to his own victory in the election thereby putting a clause on the victory declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of All Progressives Congress (APC)’ Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu on in the wee hours of Wednesday.
“I don’t think we will have any problem if he (Obi) wants to dialogue with PDP — either form an alliance or not,” he said.
Obi was Atiku’s running mate during the 2019 presidential election.
However, this time around, both men were fighting for the PDP ticket before Obi decamped to LP.
Atiku lost the first position to All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu who won the election with 8,794,726 votes, when while he polled 6,984,520 votes to finish second and Obi got 6,101,533 votes to come third as New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso finished third having polled 1,496,687.
The two men are heading to court to contest the official INEC results, as can also be confirmed in the Atiku’s speech at the press conference on Thursday.
He said, “Having consulted with leaders of our party and Nigerians from different walks of life, I have come to the conclusion that the processes and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly election of last Saturday was grossly flawed in every material particular, and as such must be challenged.”
According to the former Vice President, “This has been attested to by both local and international observers. I want to believe that this was not the legacy that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised. For President Buhari, it is not too late to make amends for the good of our country and the future generations and indeed to assure his legacy.”
Because, he said, “This battle to right the wrongs of Saturday is not about me. It is a continuation of my battles to deepen democracy and for a better life for our people. It is about the future of Nigerian youths.
“I know that Nigerians, especially the youth, are traumatized by the developments, but I want to urge them to conduct themselves peacefully.
“Like I have done over the years, I assure you that I will commit the rest of my life in ensuring that true democracy, which affirms the supremacy of your votes and your will, will take firm footing and guarantee a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nigeria. This is more so as Nigeria represents the hope of Africa and the Black World.
“It is my hope that the judiciary will redeem itself this time around and rise to the society’s expectation as the last HOPE. In the end, who wins is not as important as the credibility of our elections and electoral processes,” he confirmed that he would head to court.
“I call on all men and women of goodwill to join hands with us in the vanguard to defend our constitution from the brigandage of anti democratic forces. Finally I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute. You have the constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom to choose your leaders. We will not sit idly by and watch your rights taken from you,” he said.
