Atiku comments on the Supreme Court's decision upholding Tinubu's election, highlighting that the judgment legitimizes identity theft and forgery

The Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his disappointment in the Supreme Court's decision to uphold President Tinubu's election, considering it a loss for Nigeria. At a press conference held by his party in Abuja on Monday, October 30, Atiku stressed that the electoral and judicial proceedings were not solely about his own interests but were fundamentally about the nation, its institutions, and its future.

Atiku firmly maintained that Bola Tinubu, the former All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was unqualified to participate in the February 2023 presidential election. He believed that the Supreme Court's ruling conveyed a troubling message to Nigerians – that it is acceptable to secure an election victory through any means, even including activities like forgery, identity theft, and violence.

In his own words: "Someone asked me what I would do if I lost my election petition appeal at the Supreme Court. In response, I said that as long as Nigeria wins, the struggle would have been worth the while. By that, I meant that the greater loss would not be mine but Nigeria's if the Supreme Court legitimizes illegality, including forgery, identity theft, and perjury."

Atiku cautioned that if the Supreme Court, as the highest judicial body in the land, appears to endorse criminal activities and reward them through its verdict, it would spell doom for Nigeria, regardless of who occupies the Presidential seat. 

Furthermore, if the Supreme Court allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to mislead the public with false statements and manipulate the electoral process to achieve a predetermined corrupt outcome, it would severely damage the country's democracy and electoral system.

Atiku emphasized the far-reaching consequences of these decisions, which would affect the nation for many years to come, extending beyond the current government's tenure. He expressed his conviction that history would eventually vindicate his position, as the Supreme Court's ruling has now been made clear.