By Oscar Kambona
The United Progressive Party (UPP) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday.
He said that Buhari has been vindicated.
UPP also counselled Buhari to remain focused in carrying out the responsibilities of his office, just as it urged him to accept his victory with the magnanimity of a forgiving father.
The party via its national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said that the victory was essential in deepening the fledgling democracy in Nigeria.
The party further stated: “We felicitate heartily with President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the resounding landmark verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which upheld the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in February, 2019. Justice has been served just as this victory is essentially for democracy.
“It is with joy that we recall that on 17th August, 2018, when the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party resolved unequivocally to support President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for 2019 Presidential election, we unambiguously stated in our address to the Press immediately after our NEC meeting of the same date that we would contribute our quota to ensure that the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 23rd February 2019 Presidential Election would be so resounding in a manner that would make any petition against the outcome of the election to be a “mere and unnecessary national distraction”.
“On 20th November, 2018, the leaders of our party led by our National Chairman, Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie were granted audience at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to meet with the President where the party conveyed its resolution not to present a Presidential Candidate on the platform of the UPP to focus our attention and energy in campaigning for him. He won the election with a margin of nearly four million votes to his closest rival. We sincerely advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of sportsmanship.
“Unfortunately, they opted to proceed to the Tribunal with their petition against the election of President Buhari. True to our prediction, they have only succeeded in distracting the attention of the Nigerian people unnecessarily. We hope that their misadventure will be allowed to rest at this point, and save the nation of further distraction.
“In congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari, we urge him to accept his victory with the magnanimity of a forgiving father. He should remain focused in carrying out the onerous responsibilities of his Office. The United Progressive Party and its leadership are committed to remain constructively engaged with the President until the successful completion of his second and final tenure as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
