The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called upon former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to acknowledge his defeat in the 2023 presidential election. Atiku, who ran under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), secured the second position in the election. He had contested the president’s victory in court but lost when the Presidential Tribunal dismissed his petition,Daily Trust reports.
One of the allegations dismissed by the presidential election court was related to forgery. Despite the court’s ruling, Atiku pursued his case in the United States, where he eventually obtained official documents he sought to include in his appeal to the Supreme Court. These academic records were provided to Atiku’s legal team after the registrar of Chicago State University, Caleb Westberg, attested to their authenticity.
ALSO READ: How ‘Hazy Weather’ Unsettles Drivers, Asthmatic Patients In Maiduguri
During a press conference on Thursday, Atiku explained why he pursued this course of action and called on other presidential candidates to join him in what he characterized as a fight for transparency.
In response to Atiku’s allegations, Felix Morka, the APC spokesman, criticized Atiku’s press conference, describing it as lacking purpose and substance. Morka pointed out that the allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been cleared, and the school confirmed the president’s graduation.
Morka expressed concern about Atiku’s desperation and his unstatesmanlike conduct, considering his past role as the country’s vice-president. He accused Atiku of showing contempt for the highest court by making public comments on a matter that was under the court’s jurisdiction.
Morka also noted that Atiku’s long history of unsuccessful presidential bids and his recent actions abroad were causing damage to Nigeria’s image and the dignity of the presidency. He urged Atiku to accept his defeat gracefully and refrain from further undermining the democratic process.
In conclusion, Morka emphasized that Nigerians had elected President Tinubu with a mandate to address various challenges in the country, and he would not be distracted by Atiku’s attempts to overturn the election results through alternative means.
