Former President of the
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, on Wednesday, urged the
presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar,
not to approach the Election Petition Tribunal over his loss of the February 23
presidential elections.
The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday morning declared President Muhammadu
Buhari the winner of the election.
Mr Buhari polled 15,191,847
votes to defeat Mr Abubakar who scored 11,262,978 votes.
Shortly after the
announcement, Mr Abubakar rejected the result of the poll as declared by INEC
saying it was unacceptable to him. He said he would challenge it in court.
However, in a statement
sent to media houses, Mr Agbakoba advised the former vice president to avoid
going to court. He said Mr Abubakar is in a strong position to take up the
mantle of a statesman in the country by avoiding litigation over the election.
He urged the defeated
candidate not to lose sight of the legacy and greatness that lies in front of
him despite the outcome of the result.
“I understand the PDP is
aggrieved about the outcome of the election and alleged massive irregularities
but I urge former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar not to approach the Election
Petition Tribunal,” Mr Agbakoba said.
”This is not to say I do
not recognise the massive irregularities in the 2019 Presidential Election. I
can see how tempting it is to take the option of the Election Petition Tribunal
but that in my view is not the right decision.”
He also advised Mr Abubakar
to take up the opportunity and build a third force in the polity, as a
counterpoise to the APC and PDP which have won all general elections in Nigeria
since 1999.
“He might have moved
backwards by his loss but he should not lose sight of the legacy and greatness
that lies in front of him. He can build a new Nigeria movement from the motley
of small parties, third force actors, change actors and millions who are
desperate for a strong, united Nigeria,” the senior lawyer and activist said.
“There is also a lot of
work to be done in both political and electoral reforms. I request former Vice
President, Atiku Abubakar to step into the shoes,” he added.
According to him, the 2019
presidential election was marred by ethnicity. He observed that President
Buhari kept his base in the North while Mr Abubakar held his base in the South.
He said the politics of the South-west ”occurred on the basis of issues”
According to him, both the
APC and the PDP benefited from ”primordial voting.
“The voting pattern for the
2019 Presidential Election shows ethnicity played a significant role in the
Election. President Muhammadu Buhari kept his base in the North while former
Vice President, Atiku Abubakar largely held his base in the South.
“Both All Progressive
Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) benefited from primordial
voting. The excepted zone is the South-west where voting occurred on the basis
of issues.”
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