The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the Supreme Court judgement affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu as disappointing and concerning.
According to a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba on Thursday, the Party said that the verdict of the Apex Court is against Nigeria’s Constitution.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is appalled by the judgment of the Supreme Court in the petition filed by the PDP and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winners of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“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 the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, the Guideline and Regulation issued by INEC under which the election was conducted,” PDP stated.
The Party maintained that it is a “sad commentary” for the country’s democracy, stressing that the Supreme Court “failed to uphold the provisions of the law”.
“Instead, it trashed the expectation of majority of Nigerians who 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.
“Nigerians earnestly expected the Supreme Court to uphold and defend the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution in terms of qualification and minimum requirement for a winner to be declared in a Presidential election in Nigeria especially with regards to the required statutory 25% of votes in the FCT as well as issues of violation of electoral Rules and Guidelines, brazen manipulations and alterations of election results by the APC.
“Nigerians are still at a loss as to how the Supreme Court condoned the serious issues of forgery, falsehood and perjury on the altar of technicalities.”
The Peoples Democratic Party further described the judgement of the Court as strange, coupled with weighty repercussions.
“The general gloom, melancholy and sense of despondency across the country upon the delivery of the judgment is an ominous sign of eerie situation which portend grave consequences because of the disappointment embedded in the judgment.
“This judgment by the Supreme Court has evidently shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court as the last hope of the common man.”
PDP reiterated its doggedness, hence enjoined Nigerians not to be disturbed by the judgement of the Supreme Court.
It also encouraged Nigerians, noting that the verdict should not detract them 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.
The appeals of Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Mr. Peter Obi at the Apex Court was ruled in favour of President Bola Tinubu earlier today.
