The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has denied congratulating President Bola Tinubu over the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
Anaedoonline.ng had earlier reported that the tribunal on Wednesday knocked out Atiku’s appeal against Tinubu.
In a statement sent on Thursday through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku claimed the congratulations were fake news created by people who were anxious to find justification for seizing the Nigerian people’s mandate.
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Ibe pointed out that despite the tribunal’s ruling, his principle is not giving up on politics.
Ibe asserts that Atiku was unable to legitimise electoral fraud because doing so would have been equivalent to raping the conscience of Nigerians who have fought for years to establish electoral integrity.
Ibe said, “If their conscience is clear and they are convinced that their victory is valid, they don’t have to blackmail their political opponents into congratulating them through fake news.
“Why should a man be desperate for validation? Does truth require validation? Why should you issue a congratulatory statement and attribute it to Atiku if your conscience is not troubled by the electoral heist you have perpetrated.
“Contrary to the fake news being circulated by Tinubu propagandists, Atiku has already asked his lawyers to proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the election petition tribunal.
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“To confirm that the purported message is fake and pedestrian, it was addressed to the “President-elect.” Though we know it is a pyrrhic victory, is it not ridiculous to still address Bola Tinubu as “President-elect” five months after swearing-in?”
According to Ibe, “This struggle is not about Atiku; it’s about Nigeria and the future of our democracy. By allowing election riggers to get away with their misdeeds, our democracy will be in greater jeopardy. Consent is essential to democratic mandate; ruling people against their will undermines everything democracy stands for.”
He also clarified that the PDP presidential candidate will not retire but rather be active in the fight to strengthen democracy in the nation.
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Ibe added, “The Waziri has nothing personal against President Tinubu. He owes him no ill will. Let me, however, make it very clear that this struggle is about principle and justice. He is not in this struggle because he hates Tinubu. He is in it to ensure that people who rigged elections are not allowed to get away with it. Injustice and rigging promote bitterness and division. No leader should be proud to lead angry and aggrieved citizens.”
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