PEPT: Tinubu Hails Obi, Atiku As Valiant Challengers; Praises Panel Members, Says Nigeria Has Matured

By Adesina Soyooye

In his reaction to the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Court, PEPC which affirmed him as the winner of the February 25 Presidential Election, President Bola Tinubu hailed members of Tribunal, and asserted that Nigeria has matured.

The five man panel of Appeal Court Judges unanimously ruled in favour of Tinubu, thus, handed him over a resounding victory against his opponents.

The Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Labour Party, LP, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively, along with their Political Parties, had dragged Tinubu to Court citing many alleged infractions to challenge his victory as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

But on Wednesday, September 6, PEPC roundly dismissed their challenge and affirmed Tinubu as duly elected.

In a statement signed on behalf of the President who is on an official visit to India by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, the President while thanking Nigerians and affirming his commitment urged his challengers to advice their supporters to exhibit the spirit of patriotism.

Said Ngelale in the statement: “The President urges his valiant challengers to inspire their supporters in the trust that the spirit of patriotism will now and forever be elevated above partisan considerations, manifesting into support for our Government to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.”

In the statement, dated September 6, 2023, President Tinubu “assured Nigerians of his renewed and energized focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation.”

Tinubu said he welcomed “the judgment of the Tribunal with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities.”

He, also, said that he “recognizes the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law”, and added  “affirms that his commitment to the rule of law, and the unhindered discharge of duties by the Tribunal, as witnessed in the panel’s exclusive respect for the merits of the petitions brought forward, further reflects the continuing maturation of Nigeria’s legal system, and the advancement of Africa’s largest democracy at a time when our democratic system of government is under test in other parts of the continent.

Said the statement: “The President believes the Presidential Candidates and Political Parties that have lawfully exercised their rights by participating in the 2023 general elections and the judicial process, which followed, have affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials.

“The President urges his valiant challengers to inspire their supporters in the trust that the spirit of patriotism will now and forever be elevated above partisan considerations, manifesting into support for our Government to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians.

“Once more, President  Tinubu thanks Nigerians for the mandate given to him to serve our country while promising to meet and exceed their expectations, by the grace of God Almighty, and through very diligent hard work with the team that has been put  in place for that sole purpose.”