Atiku speaks on why he did not call to congratulate Buhari

BY: Oliseama Okwchukwu

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, said on the 23rd of February that he would have called to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari, had the presidential election be free and fair of all inconsistencies. 

Atiku made this assertion when he addressed the nation regarding the outcome of the polls.

He said, “If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.

“However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019.”

The former Vice President said that he would challenge the outcome of the polls in court.

Meanwhile, in reaction to Atiku’s challenge, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, says the party is looking forward to meeting with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, in court.

The APC chairman said, “from day 1, Atiku made up his mind that unless he wins, the election is not free and fair and it is only free and fair if he is returned as the candidate”.

He, therefore, stated that Atiku is free to go to court.

“You cannot possibly deny anyone the right to challenge the outcome of an election however free and fair… like myself when I believed I was cheated out,” Oshiomhole said Wednesday during a briefing in Abuja.

“If you have cause to dispute the outcome of an election, the only lawful way open to you is to go to court.

“So, we hope and we are looking forward to meeting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in court and the facts will be laid bare but if I might dare him, we might also choose to cross-petition”.