Atiku berates tribunal’s judgement ‘bereft of substantial justice’; vows to challenge decision at Supreme Court

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has said the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court fell below his expectations.

Atiku, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, said the verdict was “bereft of substantial justice”.

“Gentlemen of the press, I take great pains to tell you that the decision of the court of first instance on this matter utterly falls far short of that expectation. I am therefore here to tell you that though the judgement of the court yesterday is respected, it is a judgement that I refuse to accept.

“I refuse to accept the judgment because I believe that it is bereft of substantial justice. However, the disappointment in the verdict of the court can never destroy my confidence in the judiciary.”

The former vice-president said his decision to seek justice in court “is grounded in my belief that the courts are the guardians of justice.”

Abubakar highlighted his history of legal battles and his faith in the judiciary, emphasising his commitment to continue the fight.

He expressed deep concerns about the management of the last presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the impact it had on transparent elections conducted through technological means.

“The recent presidential election and INEC’s handling of it set a worrying precedent that I believe the court must rectify,” said Atiku. “The judgment rendered by the presidential election petition tribunal yesterday, unfortunately, does not restore confidence in our aspiration for elections free from human manipulation. My primary objective in challenging the election outcome is to bolster democracy through the principles of fair hearings and justice.”

“I want to make it clear that I respect the court’s judgment, but I cannot accept it because I believe it lacks substantial justice. However, my disappointment with the verdict will not erode my confidence in the judiciary.”

“Consequently, I have instructed my legal team to exercise my constitutionally guaranteed right of appeal to the higher court, which in this instance is the Supreme Court of Nigeria. It is my conviction that Nigeria’s electoral process should be free from irregularities, ensuring that election outcomes reflect the true will of the voters.”

Reflecting on his steadfast dedication to fair elections, Atiku said: “Whether I succeed in this endeavour or not, my efforts to establish a credible electoral order in Nigeria will be a legacy for future generations.”

He also urged his supporters to remain composed and resolute, drawing inspiration from the teachings of his late mentor, Shehu Yaradua, who he quoted as saying, “Losing a battle is less significant than losing a war.”

“We may have lost a battle yesterday, but the struggle to restore trust in our electoral system lies ahead, and with faith in God and ourselves, we will ultimately triumph,” he added.

Atiku and PDP while rejecting the judgment of the PEPT, which they say was a miscarriage of justice, have vowed to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche, said he had received instructions from his client to file an appeal at the Supreme Court.

“The judgment has been delivered, but we have not received justice,” Uche said. “Luckily, the law has given us leverage to go on appeal to the Supreme Court. We have instructions from our clients to go to the Supreme Court. The struggle continues.”

Recall in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku secured about 7 million votes, representing 29.07 percent of the total votes cast. Bola Tinubu emerged as the winner with 8.8 million votes, constituting 36.61 percent of the total votes, while Peter Obi secured the third position with 6.1 million votes, accounting for 25.40 percent of the total votes cast.