PDP Rejects Tribunal Judgement, Sets for Supreme Court

PDP Rejects Tribunal Judgement, Sets for Supreme Court

POLITICS DIGEST – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) which affirmed the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday.

The PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had challenged the conduct of the February 25 2023 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that the latter erred in law by declaring President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the polls.

The main opposition party in a statement on Thursday by its spokesman, Debo Ologunaba, described the judgement as a travesty of justice.

The party held that the judgement by the five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani was long on technicalities but short on the relevant laws and guidelines of holding elections in the country.

The PDP therefore said it will study the judgement and brief its lawyers on the next line of action within the armbit of the law.

The statement read in part:

“As a Party, we have had an initial review of the Judgment as delivered by the PEPC and we unequivocally reject the said Judgement in its entirety.

“The Judgement is against reason, against the facts and evidence presented in Court; against the relevant Electoral Laws, Guidelines, and Regulations as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Indeed, the Judgment is generous in technicalities and very short in delivering substantial justice in the matter.

“The PDP, as a law-abiding political Party, will with our lawyers, have a comprehensive review of the Judgment and decide on the next line of action within the ambit of the law.

“The PDP calls on Nigerians to remain at alert, calm, and united as our Party continues to lead the charge to defend Democracy and ensure that the Will of the people as expressed in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election is respected and restored.”