PDP, LP Reject Tribunal Verdict, Mull Next Move… 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have rejected the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) which affirmed Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 2023 poll. 

While both parties, who were petitioners in the case are mulling their next line of action, President Tinubu has called on their candidates – Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi – to support his government and welcome his victory at the Tribunal.

In a marathon judgement on Wednesday, the five-member panel of judges dismissed petitions against Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election.

But in a swift reaction, both parties in separate statements faulted the verdict, saying they would consult their lawyers to know the next line of action.

LP’s spokesman Obiora Ifoh said the judgement “did not reflect the law and the desire of the people”.

“Nigerians were witnesses to the electoral robbery that took place on February 25, 2023, which was globally condemned but the Tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the obvious,” he added.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said “the judgement is against reason, against the facts and evidence presented in Court; against the relevant Electoral Laws, Guidelines and Regulations as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)”.

According to him, the PDP would meet with its lawyers and review the verdict to know its next move.

Despite their rejection of the verdict, President Tinubu is calling on their candidates to support his administration in its quest to better the lot of Nigerians.

Tinubu’s media aide Ajuri Ngelale said his principal is ready to work with all Nigerians irrespective of political, ethnic or religious leanings as he called on his rivals to team up with him.