Buhari thanks Atiku for going to court to challenge his election victory rather than resorting to ‘other ways’

President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the Supreme court’s explanation on the ruling on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s presidential election petition.

In a statement on Friday by his media aide, Garba Shehu, Buhari noted that allegations must be substantiated if they are to hold, and this required producing credible witnesses that verify key claims “as the Supreme Court has stated, the case failed this test.”

The Supreme Court had earlier Friday explained that PDP and its candidate failed to call credible witnesses in their appeal filed challenging the victory of President Buhari in the 2019 presidential elections.

Buhari, who welcomed the “elucidation of the Supreme Court ruling on the PDP petition,” stressed that the onus of proof must necessarily fall on those that challenge votes.

READ ALSO: Atiku, PDP failed to prove INEC transmitted election results electronically – Supreme Court

On the issue of qualifications, Buhari said he has a “long history of service to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The statement reads: “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.”

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