The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its disappointment over the recent judgment by the Supreme Court affirming President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25, 2023, Presidential election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared President Tinubu as the winner of the election.
In a statement issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party voiced its concerns and alarm at the reasoning behind the Supreme Court’s decision. The PDP believes that the judgment goes against the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, and the Guidelines and Regulations issued by INEC for the conduct of the election.
“The PDP asserts that it is a sad commentary for our democracy that the Supreme Court failed to uphold the provisions of the law,” said Ologunagba. “Instead, it disregarded the expectations of majority of Nigerians who regarded the Supreme Court as a temple of impartiality and expected it to deliver substantial justice based on the laws and facts of the case.”
The PDP had expected the Supreme Court to uphold and defend the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly regarding the qualification and minimum requirements for a winner to be declared in a Presidential election. This includes the requirement of securing at least 25% of votes in the FCT as well as addressing issues of electoral rule violations, manipulations, and alterations of election results by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologunagba also expressed his surprise and concern over the Supreme Court’s leniency towards “serious issues of forgery, falsehood, and perjury,” citing technicalities as the basis for their decision. He noted that the widespread disappointment and despondency across the country in response to the judgment had shaken the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court as the last resort for justice.
Despite the setback, Ologunagba urged Nigerians to remain undeterred and not allow the judgment to discourage them in their pursuit of a credible electoral system that guarantees a government derived from the will of the people.
The PDP’s disappointment with the Supreme Court’s ruling highlights the deep-seated concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. It serves as a call to action for all stakeholders involved to address these concerns and work towards ensuring a transparent and fair electoral system for the nation.
