Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, has denied congratulating President Bola Tinubu on the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
Visitodell reports that the tribunal dismissed Atiku’s appeal against Tinubu on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Thursday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku claimed the congratulatory statement is fake news created by those seeking for validation for the usurpation of Nigerians’ mandate.
Ibe stated that his principal will not retire from politics as a result of the tribunal’s decision.
According to Ibe, Atiku could not have certified election tampering since doing so would have been a rape on the conscience of Nigerians who had worked 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.
“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 stated that the PDP presidential candidate will not retire and will instead remain active in the fight to enhance democracy in the country.
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.”
