'I Am Not Going Away', Atiku Says After Supreme Court Ruling

By Odiawa Ai

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 official presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, says he won't leave the political arena notwithstanding the Supreme Court ruling of October 26, 2023 that certified the electoral victory of President Bola Tinubu.

"As for me and my party, this phase of work is done. However, I am not going to go away, if you think I am going to go away, forget about it,” the former Vice President said at a press briefing on Monday in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

“For as long as I breathe, I will continue to struggle with other Nigerians to deepen our democracy. I will continue to work for the return of political and economic restructuring that the country needs," he added.

Atiku, a former VP between of 1999 and 2007, has attempted to become Nigeria's Leader for about thirty years.

Notwithstanding his unsuccessful attempts, the PDP stalwart said he won’t “go away”.

Atiku demanded that Tinubu, the then candidate of the All Reformists Congress (APC), was not certified to contest the February 2023 presidential poll.

He accused the Supreme Court and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of aiding and abating illegality, fraud, impersonation, falsification of certificates and perjury.

Atiku said when individuals lose trust in the electoral cycle, a majority rule government is in a coma.

He said however the ruling of the apex court was conclusive, it fails to impress anyone.

Atiku and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, had contested the triumph of Tinubu in the last election up to the apex court.

Not happy with the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) prior in September, Atiku and Obi moved toward the Supreme Court looking for the invalidation of Tinubu's election on the grounds of double nomination, alleged falsification of certificate, non-transmission of results electronically, 25% votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), amongst others.

In any case, last week, the Justice John Okoro-led panel of the apex court tossed out every one of the appeals by Atiku and Obi for lacking merit. The panel from there on maintained electoral victory of Tinubu.