Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated why he has chosen to challenge the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) at the apex court.
Mr Abubakar and his party had their petition, against the election that produced President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, dismissed over failure to prove beyond reasonable doubt why their plea should be granted.
The opposition and its candidate had prayed to be declared winner of the February 23 exercise, mainly relying on results allegedly obtained from the servers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite rebuttal by the electoral body that it has a server.
After the judgement, legal counsel of the former vice president vowed that the verdict of the tribunal will be appealed at the Supreme Court.
In an open letter to Nigerians thanking them for their support so far, the PDP candidate popularly known as Atiku said he is appealing the verdict because of democracy which he wants to ensure is not only done, but seen to be done.
“I owe so much to this great land of Nigeria that took me from the streets of Jada, where I sold firewood, to the heights I have attained, by God’s benevolence, in the civil service, in corporate Nigeria, and in public service,” the politician said in his epistle.
“If I do not play my part in making it possible for other orphaned children, indigent youths and the less privileged, to replicate and even surpass my path to significance, I would have failed my Maker.
“If I do not ensure that the ladder I climbed remains accessible to those at the bottom, middle and top tiers of society, I would not have fulfilled my purpose.
“And only by ensuring that democracy is not just done, but seen to be done, can Nigeria and Nigerians have a sense that this our dear land is indeed a land where Unity, Faith, Peace and Progress reside.
“It is for this, and other patriotic reasons, that I am pursuing this judicial route: To ensure that the votes of Nigerians count and are counted,” the letter read.
He also thanked state governors and National Executive Committe of the party for backing his decision to seek redress at the apex court.
“I urge all Nigerians to continue their support for this recourse to constitutional order via the courts. Even if there is little or nothing you can do to ensure that justice is done in Nigeria, just believe that it will happen. Let us never underestimate the effect of our belief,” he advised.
