Atiku confident court will upturn ‘forged’ victory, urges Nigerians to vote in state elections
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Atiku Abubakar has expressed confidence the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that Bola Tinubu won the presidential election will be upturned in court because the INEC violated the Electoral Act, 2022 and its own guidelines.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made the point in national broadcast on Wednesday in which he urged Nigerians to vote in the governorship and state Assembly elections on March 18.
He told them not to lose hope as he champions the cause to reclaim “our mandate.”
He insisted the election result that awarded victory to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was grossly tainted and does not reflect the will of the people, stressing manipulation of the process by the INEC is a clear breach of the Electoral Act.
Use the state elections to demonstrate you anger against “the sham of an election of February 25,” Atiku urged voters.
“I thank you immensely for your high sense of patriotism in bracing the myriads of odds to perform your civic duty during the February 25 presidential election,” he said.
“I truly appreciate your resilience, tenacity, and courage. It is indeed heart-warming that you have faith in rescuing and rebuilding our great country, as envisioned by our great party, the PDP.
“As attested to by both local and international observers, the result of the February 25 presidential election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] was grossly tainted and did not reflect the will of the electorate.
“You all have demonstrated this blatant injustice through different mediums. And for that, I thank you again for your non-violent conduct despite the provocations.”
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INEC announced ‘manipulated’ result
“Indeed, what the … INEC did in announcing the manipulated result was a clear breach of not only the 2022 Electoral Act but also its own guidelines which the electoral commission had repeatedly claimed would uphold the standards we had seen in the Osun and Ekiti elections,” Atiku said, per Tribune.
“The INEC Chairman further ignored calls for a review of the process in line with the amended law.
“My fellow citizens, all hope is not lost. You must never give in to apathy. I assure you that the electoral fraud perpetrated by INEC will be reversed in due course as I champion the cause to reclaim our mandate.
“We, as citizens, must continue to show resilience in the defence of our democracy and in the exercise of our rights to vote.
“As the March 18 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections beckon, I urge you as patriotic citizens of our dear country to come out in your numbers to cast your votes.
“That is one of the ways you can use to demonstrate against the sham of an election of February 25.
“As you cast your votes peacefully this Saturday and in observance of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, be sure to do so for the candidates of the PDP, the only truly national party, for a greater and prosperous Nigeria.
“May God bless you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”