2019 Polls: Judgment ‘ll Strengthen PDP, Atiku – Party Stalwart
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central in the 2019 general elections, Lawal Adamu Usman, says the Tribunal judgment against opposition PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will only strengthen their resolve to pursue all available democratic options to reclaim the people’s mandate.
Reacting to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT)’s ruling through his spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the PDP stalwart said existing challenges notwithstanding, the judiciary stll remains the last available hope for the sustenance of democracy in the country.
He said the judiciary, as the temple of justice, has the integrity and should be depended upon to restore the peoples mandate to where it rightly belongs.
Usman stated that despite desperation and unholy antics by so-called leaders who have no respect for the rule of law and recognised democratic values in power, Nigerians must not despair as there is light at the end of dark tunnel.
The Senatorial candidate, who is also challenging his defeat at the Tribunal, described the legal approach adopted by Atiku Abubakar to reclaim his mandate as gallantry.
“The PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar as epitomes of decent democratic culture, civilization and etiquette shall not be deterred in their determined commitment to explore every democratic window to reclaim the mandate voluntarily given to them by the Nigerian people.
“The gallantry with which Atiku has prosecuted the petition so far is as praiseworthy as it is encouraging to the upcoming generation of political actors to embrace peaceful and legal options in seeking redress.”
The PEPT had on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Justice Garba Mohammed read the five-member tribunal judgment that quashed all the five-point arguments filed by the PDP and Atiku seeking to nullify Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23, 2019 presidential polls.
Justice Mohammed ruled that the petitioners failed to prove their petition beyond reasonable doubts and the petition “is hereby dismissed in its entirety”.
