The Presidency on Friday reacted to the explanation given by the Supreme Court for dismissing the suit filed by Atiku Abubakar against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari during the last presidential election.
The Supreme Court declared that Atiku who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, failed to prove his claim that INEC had a server through which election results were transmitted.
Reacting to the explanation by the Supreme Court, the Presidency said it welcome the ruling, stressing that the onus of proof must necessarily fall on those that challenge the vote.
The statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, reads in part: “Allegations must be substantiated if they are to hold, and this requires producing credible witnesses that verify key claims. As the Supreme Court has stated, the case failed this test.
“On the issue of qualifications, President Buhari has a long history of service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The questioning of this fact seems to fly in the face of all evidence.
“However, now it is time for the PDP to take up the service mandated by this election.
“The legislative agenda of the ninth assembly is ambitious in both size and scope. It is critical the opposition is there to scrutinise bills and policies, rather than preoccupy themselves with unsustainable court cases.
“We appreciate the PDP and their candidate for taking these claims to courts rather than expressing them in other ways, but now Nigeria needs a robust and rigorous opposition. The nation needs to move on.
“While it is correct to give credit to the courts for affirming this electoral victory – and we commend the courage of the bench to arrive at the right conclusion given manifest and subtle pressures to do otherwise – the reality is that courts were convinced by arguments from the lawyers representing the APC and its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari that results reflected the true wishes of a majority of our citizens.
“President Buhari won four million more votes than his closest rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the February poll.
“No serious electoral observers have challenged this result. And now the Supreme Court has explained why the PDP appeal is unsubstantiated. We hope this finally puts the matter behind us.
“We should now grasp this moment to move forward – together.”
