PDP rejects Supreme Court verdict, says it is a travesty of justice

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court judgement that upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election. The PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had challenged the declaration of Tinubu as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the election was marred by irregularities, manipulation, and falsification of results.

However, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed their appeal for lacking merit and affirmed the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) that had earlier validated Tinubu’s election. The apex court said it would give reasons for its decision at a later date.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it was appalled and disappointed by the judgment, which it described as a travesty of justice and a blow to democracy. The party said the Supreme Court failed to uphold the provisions of the constitution and the electoral laws and instead trashed the expectations of millions of Nigerians who looked up to it as a temple of impartiality.

The PDP accused the Supreme Court of condoning serious issues of forgery, falsehood, and perjury on the altar of technicalities and ignoring the clear evidence of violations of electoral rules and guidelines and brazen manipulation and alteration of election results by the APC. The party said it was alarmed and gravely concerned by the reasoning of the apex court, which it believed was against the express provisions of the constitution, especially with regards to the required statutory 25 percent of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as issues of qualification and the minimum requirement for a winner to be declared in a presidential election in Nigeria.

The party said the judgement has shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, as the last hope of the common man. It said the judgement has also created a sense of gloom, melancholy, and despondency across the country, which portends grave consequences for democracy and national stability.

The PDP, however, said it remains undeterred and committed to its vision of a better Nigeria. It urged its members and supporters not to be discouraged or lose hope but to remain steadfast in their quest for a credible electoral system that can guarantee a government that truly derives its legitimacy from the people. The party also thanked Nigerians for their solidarity and support throughout the legal battle and assured them that it would continue to work for their interests and welfare.