Atiku makes good his threat, inaugurates legal team

The post presidential election drama seems to be unending as Atiku Abubakar inaugurates a legal team to challenge the outcome of the February 23 presidential poll in court.

On the other hand, incumbent president and winner in the polls, Muhammadu Buhari has received his certificate of return from the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and is now awaiting his swearing come May 29.

Atiku, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was defeated by over three million votes, had alleged that there were premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced. He described the election as the worst in Nigeria’s history while vowing to seek redress in court.

His media adviser, Paul Ibe, in a statement on Saturday, revealed that the legal team is headed by Livy Uzoukwu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

“I have just inaugurated my legal team and charged them with the responsibility of ensuring that our stolen mandate is retrieved”, Ibe quoted Atiku to have said.

Read also: PDP denies claims Atiku made demands to Buhari, insists on legal action

“I am encouraged by the presence of fearless men and women of the Bench. The judiciary which had in the past discharged itself ably is once again being called upon to deliver judgement on this matter that will be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power.”

TheCable reports that unidentified sources revealed that two senior lawyers were threatened not to be part of Atiku’s legal team.

“The government threatened Kanu Agabi and Onyechi Ikpeazu, both SANs, not to be part of the legal team,” a source said.

TheCable could not independently verify this claim and Ibe was not available for comment as of the time this report was filed.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now