President Muhammadu Buhari has floored the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar as the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the petition he and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed challenging Buhari’s victory in the 2019 Presidential election.
Justice Mohammed Garba, who led the five-man panel, in the lead judgement, dismissed the petition in its entirety and the parties are to bear their respective cost.
“This petition is accordingly and hereby dismissed in its entirety.”
However, four judges out of five agreed with the lead judgement.
Reacting immediately to the court verdict, President Buhari described it as a victory for Nigerians who trooped out to overwhelmingly elect him for a second term in office.
“Good conscience fears no evil report. I was unperturbed all along, because I knew Nigerians freely gave us the mandate. We are now vindicated,” the President said in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.
Adesina quoted the President as having dedicated the victory to God, and to Nigerians, even as he commended the judiciary for “dispensing justice without fear or favour.”
President Buhari extended a hand of fellowship to those who had felt aggrieved at the outcome of the election, and went to court, which he said is within their democratic rights.
“It is time for the country to move forward as one cohesive body, putting behind us all bickering and potential distractions over an election in which Nigerians spoke clearly and resoundingly.”
