The PDP on Friday in a press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said that Buhari was “recklessly gloating over the APC rigging of the election” and accused the President of interfering with and influencing the decision of the 2023 election petition tribunal.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, over his statement on the acclaimed victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections and the loss of the presidential seat by other political parties.
The PDP on Friday in a press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said that Buhari was “recklessly gloating over the APC rigging of the election” and accused the President of interfering with and influencing the decision of the 2023 election petition tribunal.
The party therefore demanded international sanctions and travel ban on President Buhari after he hands over power to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29, 2023.
Ologunagba stated that Buhari’s comments which he described as “unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and sub judice” is already causing apprehension and capable of destroying Nigeria’s corporate existence as a nation.
He noted that the February 25, 2023 Presidential election had been adjudged across the nation and globally as the worst in the history of our country, as the Presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2023, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units, announcement of fabricated figures and climaxed by the vexatious declaration of the defeated candidate of the APC, Tinubu as winner.
According to PDP, “The general despondency, resentment and anger across our country; the damning reports by election observers and the pervading international contempt against Nigeria since the declaration of the APC candidate as President-elect are ominous testaments that he does not have the mandate of majority of Nigerians derivable ONLY from a credible electoral process.
“As you are also aware, the PDP is already at the Tribunal with the prospects of reclaiming the mandate freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Presidential election.
“Nigerians and the International Community are therefore appalled, horrified and scandalized by the careless, unguarded and subjudice comment by President Buhari in which he attempted to justify the rigging of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the APC under his watch.
“This statement reveals the utter disregard that General Buhari has for our Constitutional democracy, judiciary and the Will of the Nigerian people as expressed at the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.
“It is, to say the least, reprehensible for Mr. President to posture and gloat over the trampling of the Will of Nigerian, blame the opposition for being overconfident and, according to him, for not being “tactical”, perhaps enough to outwit the violence, brutality, threats, suppression of voters, rigging and election manipulations by the APC and the government which he heads.
“It is unpardonable that President Buhari, who swore to uphold the laws of our country and made several commitments to the world to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent election, is rather in approval of election rigging through manifest compromise of INEC system and wide-spread alteration, falsification and switching of election results in favour of his rejected party, the APC.”
The PDP further stated that “President Buhari is practically gloating over the undermining of democracy by INEC which refused to transmit directly results from the Polling Units to its Server/Website and announce same, in total violation of the express provisions of Section 64 Sub-section 4 (a) (b) of the EA, 2022.”
According to the party, “More distressing is that after superintending over the rigging of the election, President Buhari, by his subjudice comments apparently seeks to bully, blackmail and influence the judiciary and the outcome of the petition pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, so as to allow his Party, the APC and its candidate to “grab, snatch and run” with the people’s mandate.
“The PDP in clear terms tells President Buhari and his APC that our Party and candidate, Atiku Abubakar clearly won the February 25, 2023 Presidential election as shown by the authentic results from majority of Polling Units across the country.
“The PDP did not lose the Presidential election as claimed by President Buhari and we are not willing to surrender the mandate freely given to our Party by the people irrespective of the threats, bullying and manipulation by the APC-led administration.
“Nigerians believed and expected President Buhari to leave a legacy of a free, fair and credible election based on his numerous undertakings and promises but he is leaving an ignoble, dishonorable and disgraceful legacy of enabling and superintending over the worst election conducted in the history of democracy in Nigeria. President Buhari, history will never be kind to you!”
It stated that part of the electoral process is the adjudication by the Presidential Election Tribunal which is considering petitions arising from the elections, but by his statement, “President Buhari clearly interfering in the electoral process ostensibly to influence the outcome and undermine the constitutionally laid down procedures for change of government.
“Having clearly undermined democracy in Nigeria, the PDP calls on the International Community to accordingly impose sanctions including Visa ban and travel restrictions on President Buhari and his family immediately he vacates office on May 29, 2023.
“This demand for sanction is in line with President Buhari’s request on February 17, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium, wherein he called on the European Union (EU) to impose “weighty sanctions” on those engaged in “unconstitutional change of governments” as well as those influencing “process and outcomes of elections”.
“The PDP also demands an open investigation into the roles played by President Buhari in the undermining of democracy in Nigeria in the 2019 and 2023 Presidential elections.
“President Buhari needs to be advised to be circumspect and allow the judicial process to proceed without further undue interference and bullying by him.
“The PDP appreciates Nigerians for standing firm in defending our democracy at this critical time.
“As a Party, we will never relent in our determination to retrieve our Presidential mandate through the Tribunal no matter the machination of the APC.”