Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has
reacted to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23
presidential election.
The aggrieved former Vice President says the election was not free and fair.
He says there “were manifest and premeditated” malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.
Atiku said he will seek justice the democratic way by heading to court.
Below is his full statement.
“Democracy Will Not Be Emasculated in Nigeria
I
thank the Nigerian people who trooped out in their millions to perform
their civic duty this past Saturday. The patriotism of Nigerians is
heartwarming and affirms my oft-repeated statement that we are brothers
and sisters born from the womb of one mother Nigeria.
With
regards to the Presidential elections that took place on February 23,
2019, it is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices
in many states which negate the results announced.
Another
glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the
Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other
states, with the authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases
facilitating these unfortunate situations. (See attached links to
documentary evidences).
The militarization of the electoral
process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot
era of military dictatorship. In some areas of the country, such as,
Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the elections
turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect. This
is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process
in the future.
I am a democrat and there are democratic avenues
available to present the truth to the nation and the watching world.
Already, many international observers have given their verdicts, which
corroborate our observations. I am sure more will come in the coming
hours and days.
If I had lost in a free and fair election, I
would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his
victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help
unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.
However,
in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never
seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it
is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down
on the Nigerian people.
Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.
I want to assure my supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, we will not allow democracy to be emasculated.
Signed:
Waziri Atiku Abubakar
27th February 2019
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