Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he is more energised and focused on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful, and prosperous nation, following Wednesday’s judgment by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja.
“President Tinubu welcomes the judgment of the Tribunal with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities,” the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed in a statement he signed on Wednesday night.
The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu welcomes tribunal verdict and calls for collective efforts to build the nation.’
The President said he recognises the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law.
He affirmed 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.
According to Tinubu, the development speaks to 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, that followed, have affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
“Therefore, he urged 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.
“President Tinubu thanks Nigerians for the mandate given to him to serve our country, while promising to meet and exceed their expectations, by the grace of God Almighty, and through very diligent hard work with the team that has been put in place for that sole purpose,” Ngelale concluded.
Speaking in the same vein, Vice President Kashim Shettima, also called on the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement’s, Chichi Ojei, to join the Tinubu administration in building a new Nigeria.
“On behalf of my principal, I wish to call on Wazirin Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, and Mr. Peter Obi, my very good friend, to join hands with us to build a new Nigeria,” Shettima said shortly after the five Justices on the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal unanimously upheld President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Reading the verdict earlier, Justice Haruna Tsammani, who led the five-person panel said “This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their cost.”
Thereafter, the four other Justices unanimously took turns to dismiss the petitions presented by the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, challenging Tinubu’s emergence as President, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on March 1, 2023.
In the 12-hour session, the Court dismissed the three consolidated petitions of CAPPC/03/2023, CAPPC/04/2023, and CAPPC/05/2023 on several grounds, including a lack of merit. c
Shettima also urged the opponents to bury the hatchet and work for the common goal of nation-building.
He said, “This is a time for unity. It is for us to sheath the sword and work for the greatness of our nation.”