Atiku rejects Tribunal judgement, heads to Supreme Court

Abubakar Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described the judgement by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) as being “bereft of substantial justice”.

The former vice president said his decision to approach the court was anchored on the belief it is the sanctuary of justice.

Atiku stated this in a statement made available to the media after the PEPC judgment that affirmed President Bola Ahmed as the winner of the February 2023 presidential election.

The statement reads in part; “I take great pains to tell you that the decision of the court of first instance on this matter utterly falls far short of that expectation.

“I am therefore here to tell you that, though the judgment of the court yesterday is respected, it is a judgment that I refuse to accept. I refuse to accept the judgment because I believe that it is bereft of substantial justice.

“However, the disappointment in the verdict of the court can never destroy my confidence in the judiciary.

“Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which, in the instance, is the Supreme Court.

“It is my conviction that the electoral process in Nigeria should be devoid of untidy manipulations and that the outcome of every election should be a perfect reflection of the wishes of the electorate.

“I believe that such is the only way through which our democracy can have a manifest expression of its true meaning.

“Whether I prevail in this quest or not, the record of my effort in ensuring an order of credible elections in Nigeria shall remain for the future generations to evaluate.”