The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has denied a statement falsely claiming that he had congratulated President Bola Tinubu following the outcome of the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
In response to the alleged statement attributed to Atiku, his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, dismissed it as fraudulent and part of a deliberate effort by individuals seeking validation for their questionable appropriation of the Nigerian people’s mandate.
Ibe said, “ Atiku couldn’t have validated electoral banditry because doing so would have amounted to a rape on the conscience of Nigerians who have struggled for years to entrench electoral integrity.
“if their conscience is clear and they are convinced that their victory is valid, they don’t have to blackmail their political opponents into congratulating them through fake news.”
READ ALSO: Nigeria Lost $46 Billion to Crude Oil Theft in 11 Years, Says Speaker Abbas
“Why should a man be desperate for validation? Does truth require validation? Why should you issue a congratulatory statement and attribute it to Atiku if your conscience is not troubled by the electoral heist you have perpetrated,” he queried.
“Contrary to the fake news being circulated by Tinubu propagandists, Atiku has already asked his lawyers to proceed to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement of the election petition tribunal.”
“To confirm that the purported message is fake and pedestrian, it was addressed to the “President-elect.” Though we know it is a pyrrhic victory, is it not ridiculous to still address Bola Tinubu as “President-elect” five months after swearing-in?
Ibe added, “This struggle is not about Atiku; it’s about Nigeria and the future of our democracy. By allowing election riggers to get away with their misdeeds, our democracy will be in greater jeopardy. Consent is essential to democratic mandate; ruling people against their will undermines everything democracy stands for.”
READ ALSO: Kano Gov swears in 45 special advisers
He also maintained that the PDP presidential candidate is not going into retirement and will instead continue to be part of the struggle to deepen democracy in the country.
Ibe also said, “The Waziri has nothing personal against President Tinubu. He owes him no ill will. Let me, however, make it very clear that this struggle is about principle and justice. He is not in this struggle because he hates Tinubu.
“He is in it to ensure that people who rigged elections are not allowed to get away with it. Injustice and rigging promote bitterness and division. No leader should be proud to lead angry and aggrieved citizens.”