The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to “accept defeat as a stateman.”
This was made known in a statement by the national publicity secretary of the APC, Feix Morka, reacting to Monday’s press conference by Atiku in Abuja.
Atiku had stated that Nigeria is the biggest loser of the Supreme Court verdict, affirming President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory.
He also hinted that he won’t go into political retirement as some people have advised him to do.
The statement read in part:
“Still bemoaning his electoral loss, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, earlier today, staged a press conference at which he delivered a long, windy, incoherent and preposterous speech unbefitting of a former Vice President.
“It is delusional for Atiku and his degenerate PDP to have expected the courts to rely on their bogus, flimsy, unverifiable, uncorroborated, illogical and hearsay evidence to upturn an election that was conducted in substantial compliance with the Constitution and electoral laws of our land.
“Thankfully, it does not lie in Atiku’s mouth to declare what constitutes “incontrovertible evidence”. That is the constitutional duty of the courts, which they have discharged honourably and creditably.
“For a serial election loser whose life ambition is to rule the country, we understand how pained and utterly distraught Atiku must be. However, to continue to deny and disrespect the collective will of Nigerians, disparage the judiciary, incite rage and call our democratic institutions into question is beyond the pale.
“Why is it so hard for Atiku to accept the popular choice of the electorate and the valid decisions of the courts? How is it that a man of his stature can be so befuddled to this disturbing level of election and judicial denialism? Would Atiku vilify the judiciary as he is doing had he won the election and upheld by the courts as winner?
“Atiku, you are right that this is not and cannot be all about you. Yes, it is about the country Nigeria. Nigeria is greater than your unrealized ambition to be president. Nigeria must move and has moved on.
“Regrettably, you missed the opportunity of your press conference to redeem your prestige as an elder and statesman by rising above political pettiness, and offer befitting congratulations to President Tinubu on his electoral victory.
“Rather than vindicate you, history will not forget your unwillingness to put the country first and above your personal political ambition.”
