The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar says the February 25 Presidential election in Nigeria was grossly flawed, neither free nor fair.
Atiku who addressed a world press conference at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua centre in Abuja Nigeria’s capital said the 2023 presidential election presented Nigeria and the people the greatest opportunity for a reset, especially with a legal framework in the 2022 Electoral Act and the BVAS technology.
Atiku said “the dreams and aspirations of Nigerians who braced all the challenges to go and cast their votes on Saturday, 25th of February, 2023, were shattered by the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which failed to live up to expectations. The weekend election was neither free nor fair.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that it is the worst conducted elections since the return to democratic rule. The manipulation and fraud that attended this election was unprecedented in the history of our nation. I can still not understand why the electoral umpire was in such a hurry to conclude the collation and announcement of the result, given the number of complaints of irregularities of the bypassing of the BVAS, failure of uploading to the IREV, and unprecedented cancellations and disenfranchisement of millions of voters in breach of the Electoral Act and the commission’s own guidelines. It was indeed a rape of democracy” Atiku noted.
Atiku said after consulting with leaders of the party and Nigerians from different walks of life, “I have come to the conclusion that the processes and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly election of last Saturday was grossly flawed and as such must be challenged. This has been attested to by both local and international observers. I want to believe that this was not the legacy that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised”.
He explained that it is not too late for President Buhari to make amends for the good of the country and future generations and to assure his legacy.
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‘Right the wrongs
The former Vice President said the fight to right the wrongs of Saturday’s election is not about him but a continuation of his battles to deepen democracy and for a better life for Nigerians especially the future of Nigerian youths.
“I know that Nigerians, especially the youth, are traumatised by the developments, but I want to urge them to conduct themselves peacefully. Like I have done over the years, I assure you that I will commit the rest of my life in ensuring that true democracy, which affirms the supremacy of your votes and your will, will take firm footing and guarantee a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nigeria. This is more so as Nigeria represents the hope of Africa and the Black World”.
Atiku Abubakar hoped that the “Judiciary will redeem itself this time around and rise to the society’s expectation as the last HOPE. In the end, who wins is not as important as the credibility of our elections and electoral processes”.
He added if he loses at the apex court he will take his matter to God
While calling on all men and women of goodwill to join hands with the PDP in defending Nigeria’s constitution from anti-democratic forces, he urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute. “You have the constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom to choose your leaders. We will not sit idly by and watch your rights taken from you”.
Atiku recounted his fight for democracy in the last 30 years how he, his family and business paid dearly for his struggle to entrench democracy in the country and how he stood against his former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third term bid, stating that 11 times he went from the lower to the supreme court and won his legal battles.
He said the price for democracy in Nigeria was paid for with the blood of many such as MKO Abiola, his wife Kudirat and Shehu Musa Yar’adua which must be protected at all costs.
The world press Congress was attended by Nigeria’s former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Governors Idom Emmanuel and Adamu Fintiri, National Chairman of the PDP, members of the NWC, major stakeholders from across the country and a number of supporters.
Atiku Abubakar lost the 2023 presidential election to the ruling party’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been rejected by the PDP, calling for its cancellation.
Emmanuel Ukoh
