By Ayo Yusuf
As expected, all manner of reucactions have trailed yesterday’s judgment by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal which reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s victory at the February 25th presidential polls.
While stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress including President Tinubu himself, former president Muhammadu Buhari, and national party chairman Umar Ganduje among others hailed the verdict, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party joined their presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in rejecting the ruling of the tribunal.
Immediately after the Tribunal in a final ruling read by Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, resolved all the issues in favour of the respondents, President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC, an elated Tinubu said the victory has energised him to focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation.
According to his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Mr. Tinubu welcomed the judgement with “an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities.”
Mr. Ngelale said the President “recognizes the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law.
“The President 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.
“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.”
In a similar reaction, former President, Muhammadu Buhari, said the Tribunal has “written history”.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari claimed that the ruling was a win for the people and democracy.
“If anybody has won today it is democracy and the people. With the verdict of the tribunal, the election period is over and it is time to put the heat and dust behind us,” Mr. Buhari said.
Similarly, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, commended the presidential election petition tribunal for validating Tinubu’s victory.
In a statement personally signed by him, Mr Ganduje described the judgement as thorough, and urged the PDP and the LP to cooperate with the present administration in its effort to address the challenges facing the country.
Reacting to the Tribunal’s verdict, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has asked those opposed to Tinubu’s victory to “have some sense” and embrace his (Tinubu’s) government.
Mr. Keyamo who took to his twitter page (otherwise called X) to celebrate his party’s victory wrote, “Today, Daniel has come to judgment: whether it is the fake US drug issue or the 25% FCT issue or the issue of IREV, EVERY SINGLE thing some of us have always shouted ourselves hoarse about during the campaigns and post-campaigns have been PROVED ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
“It only reassures some of us to always stand up for what we believe in, even if it appears to be against the temporary tide! Eventually, posterity will always vindicate the just!
“Huge congratulations to @officialABAT for this judicial vindication from all the wicked lies against his person. Now, it is time for them to have some sense and embrace his government and national reconciliation!”
A socio-political activist, Reno Omokri was no less exuberant in his reaction as he vowed that he will never be alive and watch Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, become the President of Nigeria.
Mr. Omokri said even if it takes him spending everything he has, he will do so to make sure that Mr. Obi does not win a presidential election in Nigeria.
The former presidential aide claimed that nobody has suffered from the former Anambra governor’s “ill-mannered followers like my family and I.”
Mr. Omokri said he is determined to “ensure that Nigeria never makes the mistake of electing you (Obi) as her President, now and forever.”
In contrast to all these outpouring of support for President Tinubu TheNewDiplomat reports that both Mr. Atiku and Mr. Obi vehemently rejected Wednesday’s judgment which threw out their petitions while affirming the election of President Tinubu.
Mr. Atiku’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who said his principal had failed to get the justice he sought at the tribunal and would therefore be taking his case to the Supreme Court, requested the tribunal to make a copy of the judgement available to him to enable his client exercise his right of appeal.
He said that the former Vice President has directed that an appeal against the decision be filed immediately.
Mr. Uche told newsmen that former Vice President Atiku got judgement at the Tribunal but did not get justice, hence, his decision to go on appeal.
Similarly, Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, the lead counsel to Mr Peter Obi confirmed that his client had directed that the judgement be challenged in the Supreme Court.
Speaking after the judgment was delivered, Mr Uzoukwu who was disappointed at the verdict stressed that litigants who are dissatisfied with the outcome of an election may resort to self-help if they continue to find it very difficult to establish their case owing to obstacles from government institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He also warned that if care was not taken, sound electoral jurisprudence would disappear in the country.
“If we are not careful, our electoral jurisprudence will eventually disappear.
I am saying this with every amount of sincerity because when the litigant, when those who contested the election continue to find it very difficult to establish their case due to obstacles on the way, starting with INEC, certainly they may resort to some other means of trying to get justice, which may not be lawful.
