Going to court to challenge the results of the 2019 presidential election by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is not the best option.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, made the assertion on Wednesday.
He was reacting to Atiku’s decision to challenge the results of the election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and won by the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku alleged that the election was fraught with irregularities and the results released were unacceptable.
Describing the election as the worst he had witnessed, he specifically alleged that figures were inflated.
But reacting to the steps Atiku decided to take, Agbakoba while delivering a paper ‘2019 Presidential Election: Ethnic Consideration vs Governance Consideration,” said that was not the best option.
His words: “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.
“We look forward to a new Nigeria, strong and united; a new Nigeria that will not vote on the basis of ethnic and primordial sentiments.”
He said rather than go to court, Atiku should work along with his party and others to take advantage of the opportunity ahead.
“I understand the PDP is aggrieved at the outcome of the election and alleged massive irregularities.
“I urge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar not to approach the Election Petition Tribunal.
“He might have (been) moved backwards by his loss but he should not lose sight of the legacy and greatness that lie in front of him,” Agbakoba said.
He stressed the need to move away from voting based on ethnic sentiment.
According to him, it was unfortunate that ethnic sentiment played a major role in determining the choice of the people in the general election.
