The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has pleaded with the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to summon the courage to do substantial justice to his petition seeking the annulment of Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election.
On Sunday, Atiku stated emphatically that, contrary to Tinubu’s threat, heaven will not fall if he (Tinubu) is removed as Nigeria’s president by the tribunal due to huge election fraud that brought him into office.
In his farewell written address, Atiku characterised Tinubu’s threat as a ruse designed to deter the tribunal from enforcing justice in the suit challenging Tinubu’s election.
In his final written statement, delivered by his lead attorney, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the former Vice President recalled the Supreme Court’s brave position in the case of Rotimi Amaechi, in which the highest court stated that heaven would not fall if justice is done in the manner required by law.
Justice George Adesola Oguntade, who gave the Supreme Court judgement in the quoted authority, stated, “I must do justice even if the heavens fall.” The fact, of course, is that when justice is done, the skies remain in one place and at peace.”
Atiku asked the tribunal to use the boldness demonstrated in the previous Supreme Court judgement to settle his petition against Tinubu, disregarding Tinubu’s threat of mammoth mayhem issued to hide himself from justice.
The former Vice President stated that Tinubu had lost his moral and legal right to be President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after admitting to a punitive forfeiture of $406,000 in a narcotics and money laundering-related incident.
Furthermore, Atiku accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of rigging the presidential election results in Tinubu’s favour and then illegally declaring him (Tinubu) the winner.
Citing INEC’s alleged brazen subversion of the popular will of the voters in favour of Tinubu, the former Vice President requested that the electoral body’s proclamation be voided and set aside, and that he be declared the election winner after receiving a convincing majority of lawful votes.
