The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has expressed disappointment about Thursday’s final judgement by the Supreme Court, on the appeal filed by the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, seeking to upturn the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.
The PDP in a press release by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba on Thursday, said the party and the majority of of Nigerians believe that the judgement is against the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Guidelines and Regulation issued by the Independent Electoral Commission, under which the election was conducted.
The party wondered how the apex court condoned the serious issues of the alleged forged, falsehood and perjury on the altar of technicalities.
However, the PDP noted that the judgement by the Supreme Court has shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, especially the apex court as the last hope of the common man.
“Presidential Appeal: Supreme Court Judgment is Disappointing, Concerning -@OfficialPDPNig …Says Apex Court Has Failed Nigerians
“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) @OfficialAPCNg and Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT as winners of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). @inecnigeria.
“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.
“The PDP asserts that it is indeed a sad commentary for our democracy that the Supreme Court failed to uphold the provisions of the law. Instead, it trashed the expectation of the majority of Nigerians who looked up to it as a Temple of Impartiality to deliver substantial justice in the matter having regard 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 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 shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court as the last hope of the common man.
“The PDP remains undeterred and charges Nigerians not to be discouraged or allow the judgment to detract from their collective quest for the entrenchment of a credible electoral system that can guarantee a government that truly derives its legitimacy from the people,” PDP said.
