Tinubu breaks silence over tribunal verdict

 

President Bola Tinubu says the tribunal judgement has renewed his goal of unifying Nigeria.

The president was quoted as speaking in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesperson.

After months of legal fireworks at the tribunal, Tinubu was returned on Wednesday by the five-man panel as the duly elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The tribunal led by Haruna Tsamman said the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) challenging the presidential election results were “all devoid of merit”.

Part of the charges filed against Tinubu included his failure to secure 25 percent of votes cast in the federal capital territory (FCT) and his forfeiture of $460,000 in the US.

According to Ngelale, Tinubu said the judgement renewed and energised his focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation.

“President Tinubu welcomes the judgment of the court with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities,” the statement reads.

“The President recognises the diligence, undaunted thoroughness and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law.

“The President affirms that his commitment to the rule of law, and the unhindered discharge of duties by the Court, as witnessed in the panel’s exclusive respect for the merits of the petitions brought forward, further reflects the continuing maturation of Nigeria’s legal system, and the advancement of Africa’s largest democracy at a time when our democratic system of government is under test in other parts of the continent.”

According to Ngelale, Tinubu said the lawful process which the petitioners took affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials and urged the challengers to inspire their supporters to take up patriotism above partisan considerations.