The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has expressed disappointment with the judgment of the Supreme Court in the petition filed by the PDP and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar against the declaration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a press statement National Publicity Secretary of the party said the PDP and majority of Nigerians were disappointed and also concerned with the reasoning of the Supreme Court which they believe was against the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The PDP also stated that the ruling was also against the Electoral Act, 2022, the Guideline and Regulation issued by INEC under which the election was conducted.
“The PDP asserts that it is indeed a sad commentary for our democracy that the Supreme Court failed to uphold the provisions of the law. Instead, it trashed the expectation of majority of Nigerians who looked up to it as a Temple of Impartiality to deliver substantial justice in the matter having regards to the laws and facts of the case,” Ologunagba said.
Ologunagba noted that the party and its supporters had expected a differnt outcome from the Supreme Court and that they “expected the Supreme Court to uphold and defend the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution in terms of qualification and minimum requirement for a winner to be declared in a Presidential election in Nigeria especially with regards to the required statutory 25% of votes in the FCT and issues of violation of electoral rules and Guidelines, brazen manipulations and alterations of election results by the APC”.
He said the Supreme Court ignored a number points raised on technicalities and that the judgment by the Supreme Court has shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court as the last hope of the common man.
Ologunagba explained that PDP remains undeterred as he charges Nigerians not to be discouraged or allow the judgment to detract from their collective quest for the entrenchment of a credible electoral system that can guarantee a legitimate governance.
Lateefah Ibrahim
