The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar Thursday revealed that he has instructed his lawyers to appeal the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) given in favour of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Atiku, while addressing a press conference in Abuja said the last presidential election said the judgement delivered on Wednesday failed to restore confidence in everyone’s dreams of free and fair elections devoid of human manipulations
The former vice president noted that the last presidential election and the way it was managed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) left behind unenviable precedents, which he believed the courts have a duty to redress.
His words: “I am therefore here to tell you that, though the judgment of the court yesterday (Wednesday) is respected, it is a judgment 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.
“Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which, in the instance, is the Supreme Court.
“It is my conviction that the electoral process in Nigeria should be devoid of untidy manipulations and that the outcome of every election should be a perfect reflection of the wishes of the electorate.
“I believe that such is the only way through which our democracy can have a manifest expression of its true meaning. Whether I prevail in this quest or not, the record of my effort in ensuring an order of credible elections in Nigeria shall remain for the future generations to evaluate.”