The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 elections, Atiku Abubakar, to accept defeat.
The party said this in a statement by its spokesperson, Felix Morka, on Monday, reacting to a press conference held by Atiku earlier in the day.
Atiku press conference
Atiku called the conference to formally react to the recent judgment of the Supreme Court which dismissed his appeal against the earlier judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPC) and confirmed the election of Bola Tinubu as president.
The PDP candidate, who came second in the February elections, had challenged the result before the PEPC and subsequently before the Supreme Court, both of which confirmed Mr Tinubu’s election.
During the press conference, Atiku criticized the court’s ruling, insisting that it left many questions unanswered.
He said the court’s decision has far-reaching consequences, which he said include the erosion of confidence in the electoral system, the judiciary and, ultimately, the country’s democracy.
Accept defeat
Morka said the PDP candidate was only repeating his illusory claim that Tinubu did not win the February 25 presidential election.
“In its confused and disdainful perspective, the Supreme Court “implies with its ruling that crime is good and should be rewarded.” Atiku regurgitated his delusional claim that President Bola Tinubu did not win the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Rather, he claimed that they “showed irrefutable evidence of serious irregularities, violence and manipulations during the elections,” accusations that were roundly dismissed by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal and the Supreme Court as unfounded and unproven.
“Surprisingly, nowhere in his long press release epistle did Atiku claim that he won the election, corroborating the conclusion and decision of the courts that he did not, in fact, win the election.”
Morka said it is wishful thinking that Atiku and his party expected the courts to rely on “their false, flimsy, unverifiable, uncorroborated, illogical and hearsay evidence” to annul the elections.
According to him, the elections were carried out in substantial compliance with the Constitution and electoral laws.
Morka said that while the APC understands how distraught Atiku was, it must not continue to “deny and disrespect the collective will of Nigerians” by belittling the judiciary, inciting anger and questioning democratic institutions.
He said: “Why is it so difficult for Atiku to accept the popular choice of the electorate and the valid decisions of the courts? How is it possible that a man of his stature could be so baffled by this worrying level of electoral and judicial denialism? Would Atiku vilify the judiciary like he is doing if he had won the election and the courts had confirmed him as the winner?
Morka noted that the APC candidate lost the opportunity to redeem his prestige as an elder and statesman by congratulating Tinubu.
“Instead of vindicating him, history will not forget his unwillingness to put the country first and above his personal political ambition,” he said.
Read the full statement
FCT, ABUJA
OCTOBER 30, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
*ATIKU ABUBAKAR MUST ACCEPT DEFEAT AS A STATESMAN*
Still mourning his electoral defeat, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, today organized a press conference in which he delivered a long, windy, incoherent and absurd speech, unbecoming of a former vice president.
In its confused and disdainful perspective, the Supreme Court “implies with its ruling that crime is good and should be rewarded.” Atiku regurgitated his illusory claim that President Bola Tinubu did not win the February 25, 2023 presidential election. Rather, he claimed that they “showed irrefutable evidence of serious irregularities, violence and manipulation during the elections,” allegations that were roundly dismissed by the Presidential Election Petitions Court and the Supreme Court for considering them unfounded and unproven. Surprisingly, nowhere in his long press release epistle did Atiku state that he won the election, corroborating the conclusion and decision of the courts that he, in fact, did not win the election.
It is an illusion that Atiku and his degenerate PDP expected the courts to rely on false, flimsy, unverifiable, uncorroborated, illogical and hearsay evidence to overturn an election that was conducted in substantial compliance with the Constitution and the laws elections of our country. land. Fortunately, it is not for Atiku to declare what constitutes “incontrovertible evidence.” That is the constitutional duty of the courts and they have fulfilled it honorably and with dignity.
For a serial election loser whose ambition in life is to rule the country, we understand how pained and completely distraught Atiku must be. However, continuing to deny and disrespect the collective will of Nigerians, belittling the judiciary, inciting anger and questioning our democratic institutions is beyond the pale.
Why is it so difficult for Atiku to accept the popular choice of the electorate and the valid decisions of the courts? How is it possible that a man of his stature could feel so bewildered by this disturbing level of electoral and judicial denialism? Would Atiku vilify the judiciary like he is doing if he had won the election and the courts had confirmed him as the winner?
Atiku, you are right that this is not and cannot be all about you. Yes, it is about the country Nigeria. Nigeria is bigger than his unrealized ambition to be president. Nigeria must move forward and has done so.
Unfortunately, he missed the opportunity of his press conference to redeem his prestige as an elder and statesman by overcoming political pettiness and offer appropriate congratulations to President Tinubu on his electoral victory. Instead of vindicating him, history will not forget his unwillingness to put the country first and above his personal political ambition.
Signed:*Félix Morka, Esq.*National Advertising Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
