In a dramatic turn of events, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has vehemently rejected the ruling delivered by the presidential election petition tribunal on Wednesday.
The tribunal’s decision came as a striking blow to the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who sought to overturn President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the fiercely contested February 25 election.
A panel of five justices, led by Chief Justice Haruna Tsammani, rendered a unanimous verdict in favor of President Tinubu. The tribunal’s ruling centered on the PDP’s allegations of vote rigging and electoral irregularities, which they contended had marred the election.
In their detailed judgment, the justices held that Atiku Abubakar had failed to substantiate the claims of vote rigging and irregularities.
The decision also addressed Abubakar’s assertion that Tinubu should have been disqualified from contesting the election due to a $460,000 forfeiture to the United States government. A Chicago court had previously declared that these funds were proceeds from drug trafficking.
The tribunal concluded that Abubakar did not provide sufficient evidence to justify Tinubu’s disqualification on these grounds.
Responding to the tribunal’s decision, Debo Ologunagba, the spokesperson for the PDP, issued a statement on Wednesday night expressing the party’s unequivocal rejection of the judgment in its entirety.
Ologunagba declared, “The judgment is against reason, against the facts and evidence presented in court, against the relevant Electoral Laws, Guidelines, and Regulations as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Indeed, the judgment is generous in technicalities and very short in delivering substantial justice in the matter.”
Ologunagba assured the party’s supporters that they would conduct a comprehensive review of the judgment and carefully consider the next course of action within the boundaries of the law. He emphasized the PDP’s commitment to upholding the will of the people and ensuring that justice is served.
In a call for unity and calm among its supporters, the opposition party urged them to remain steadfast while efforts are underway to restore what they believe to be the true will of the Nigerian people.
This contentious ruling is likely to ignite further political debate and legal battles in the coming days as the PDP continues its fight for electoral justice in the aftermath of the presidential election.
