Tag: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

  • Any Election Re-run Should Be Between Me and Atiku, Obi Not Qualified – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu has appealed to justices of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC) in Abuja to exclude the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, in the event of any rerun presidential election, claiming that only he and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are constitutionally qualified to recontest.

    Tinubu argued that if the justices void the February 25, 2023, presidential election, Obi and his party will not be qualified to recontest.

    Obi’s counsel, counteracting, urged the five-member panel of the PREPEC not to subvert the will of the people as expressed in the February 25 presidential election, stressing that they should sack Tinubu without further delay.

    Tinubu faulted both Obi and LP for asking the court to cancel the election and compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh poll in which he (Tinubu), Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not participate.

    He argued that should the relief be granted, Obi and LP would not derive any benefit, as they have been constitutionally barred from contesting the rerun election.

    President Tinubu’s arguments were contained in his final written address in response to the petition of Obi and the LP challenging his declaration as president.

    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman had on March 1, declared Tinubu the winner of the February 25 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes while Atiku and Obi reportedly scored 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 votes, respectively.

    Both Obi and Atiku are laying claim to victory because each of them scored a majority of lawful votes cast at the poll. Alternately, they urged the court to order a re-run election to decide the authentic winner of the poll.

    However, Tinubu in his final written address to the petition by Obi and LP, which was filed by his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), submitted that the evidence tendered by the petitioners failed to prove claims of non-compliance and corruption capable of voiding his election.

    He, however, added that:

    “In the very unlikely event that the election of February 25, 2023, is voided, the only candidates constitutionally prescribed to contest any subsequent election shall be the 2nd respondent and the candidate of the PDP who came second, by scoring the next majority of votes in the highest number of states (19 states), to the 1st petitioner’s 16 states, and also coming second by a plurality of votes, having scored 6,984,520, far and above 1st petitioner’s 6,101,533 votes.

    “In effect, the petitioners have no locus standi to ask for relief 2, both constitutionally and legally; constitutionally, because he is barred from contesting; legally, because he has no benefit to derive from the said relief, assuming it is granted”, he said.

    Contending that the court cannot decree an order for a fresh election, outside the provisions of the constitution, Olanipekun who cited a plethora of authorities, said: “The law is settled that ‘a party prosecuting an action would (only) have locus standi where the reliefs claimed would confer some benefits on such a party.’”

    According to him, the only candidates constitutionally prescribed to contest any subsequent election shall be the 2nd respondent and the candidate of the PDP who came second, by scoring the next majority of votes in the highest number of states (19 states), to the 1st petitioner’s 16 states, and also coming second by plurality of votes, having scored 6,984,520, far and above 1st petitioner’s 6,101,533 votes.

    Citing Section 134(3) of the Constitution, Olanipekun submitted that, “the 1st petitioner is constitutionally barred from participating in any election, in the very unlikely event that the election of February 25, 2023, is voided”.

    Section 134(3) provides thus: “In default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, there shall be a second election in accordance with subsection (4) of this section at which the only candidate shall be – (a) The candidate who scored the highest number of votes at any election held in accordance with the said subsection (2) of this section; and (b) One among the remaining candidates who has a majority of votes in the highest number of states, so however that where there are more than one candidate with majority of votes in the highest number of states, the candidate among them with the highest total of votes cast at the election shall be the second candidate for the election.”

    Olanipekun also faulted the petitioners’ prayers for the cancellation of the election and an order mandating INEC to conduct a fresh election, on the grounds that the petitioners did not suggest who the participants or candidates at the said election would be.

    “Most humbly, the court cannot decree an order for a fresh election, outside the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

    “In any event, the 1st petitioner has failed to comply with the law of the land, by first making himself a member of the 2nd petitioner, before proceeding to purportedly contest election and even file a petition.
    “We, again, refer to the un-contradicted evidence of the respondents’ sole witness, who observed that the name of the 1st petitioner is nowhere located in Exhibit RA18.

    “Arising from the foregoing, is the fact that the petition is improperly constituted, and, as such, at the end of evidence/trial, it is clear that it does not vest jurisdiction in this honourable court to entertain it, and more particularly, to grant the reliefs sought.
    “The essence of all these is that in the absence of the PDP and its candidate, the NNPP and its candidate, the grounds of the petition, the paragraphs making allegations against the parties and any evidence extracted during trial become incompetent and inadmissible in the absence of those parties.”

  • PDP, Atiku Concludes Case Against Tinubu, Tender More Evidence

    PDP, Atiku Concludes Case Against Tinubu, Tender More Evidence

    The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday called another witness who tendered more evidence before the Presidential Election Petition Court.

    The PDP and Atiku are challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the elected president in the February 25 election.

    Through their subpoenaed witness, the petitioners, Mike Enahoro-Ebah, tendered Tinubu’s academic records and personal particulars in aid of their petition against the President.

    Led in evidence by the petitioners’ counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, the witness identified himself as a lawyer and human rights activist and adopted his written deposition, filed on June 20.

    Enahoro-Ebah in the course of his testimony, tendered before the court certified copies of academic qualifications of the President which were admitted in evidence and marked as an exhibit by the court.

    The court also admitted in evidence and marked as an exhibit Tinubu’s certificate of service from Mobile Oil Nigeria Plc and a copy of his Guinean Passport.

    The witness, among other evidence, tendered before the court a transcript that was issued in 1977 by South West College.

    He said the transcript established that Tinubu who attended Chicago State University was a female.

    He also tendered a transcript that was issued in 1977 by South West College, which he said established that, the Tinubu that attended Chicago State University was a female.

    Enahoro-Ebah told the court that his lawyer in the United States of America wrote to various schools that Tinubu claimed to have attended and obtained more information about him.

    He said that in April 2023, he received a copy of the “notorised” judgment involving Tinubu in criminal asset forfeiture proceedings.

    The court admitted the documents in evidence despite vehement objections from the respondents in the case namely; INEC, Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress.

    Under cross- examination, the witness maintained that the President had dual citizenship.

    When asked by counsel for the President, Wole Olanikpekun, SAN, if he inquired from the Guinean embassy whether Tinubu denounced the purported citizenship, he replied that the former President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, admitted the issuance of the passport.

    Meanwhile, the PDP and Atiku have finally closed their case at the Presidential Election Petition Court having run out of their allotted time.

    The petitioners did so through their counsel, Chris Uche, SAN.

    They have, so far, called a total of 27 witnesses in aid of their petition.

  • I Will Hand Over Federal Universities To State Govts – Atiku

    I Will Hand Over Federal Universities To State Govts – Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has said he will hand over Federal Government-owned universities to state governments.

    The 75-year-old Adamawa-born politician stated this on Monday as a panelist at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

    The conference, with the theme ‘Bold Transitions’, began on Monday and will run until August 26.

    Speaking on Monday during the panel session aired live on Channels Television, Atiku said the Federal Government does not have infinite resources.

    “The only way is to make sure that you make conducive environment available to both foreign and local investors to participate in our country, whether it is infrastructure, whether it is education, whether it is power,” he said.

    “I had an argument with a university professor from Federal University, Lokoja. He said he read in my policy document that I intended to devolve, in other words, to return education to the states. How dare do I do that?

    “I said, ‘Mr Professor, do you realise that the first set of our universities belong to the regional governments?’ He said, ‘Yes’. I said who are the successors of the regional government? He said the states.

    “I said the children you send to America, to England, who own those universities? Mostly the private sector. So, why is it that you think we cannot do it here? We don’t have the money.”

  • Wike Disowns Law Suit Against Atiku’s Presidential Candidacy

    Wike Disowns Law Suit Against Atiku’s Presidential Candidacy

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has denied filing a suit against the Peoples Democratic Party, its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    Speaking at the commissioning of House of Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt, Wike said he was focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers State.

    “People have called me that I went to court against Atiku Abubakar,” he said.

    “I want to state categorically that I didn’t go to court. I just want to say it for Nigerians to know. I have kept quiet. I am busy with delivering the dividends of democracy.

    “If they lose election, nobody should call my name. I have told the candidate.

    “If I wanted to go to court, I would have gone to court within two weeks.

    “It is the candidate’s group that are doing all these things. Let the world hear. They are the ones plotting all these things, thinking they will spoil my name.

    “We are supposed to be talking about winning election.”

  • PDP Crisis: Atiku, Wike Meet In Abuja

    PDP Crisis: Atiku, Wike Meet In Abuja

    Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar met with Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike in Abuja on Thursday.

    The meeting was held behind closed doors and neither party officially confirmed it held.

    However credible sources told Channels Television that the duo met as efforts to resolve their differences continue within the PDP.

    The meeting reportedly held at the residence of Professor Jerry Gana, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees.

    The PDP board on Wednesday had resolved to reconcile both parties ahead of the 2023 general elections,

    Wike is expected to back Atiku in the 2023 general elections but indications have emerged that the Rivers State Governor is unhappy after being passed over for the party’s vice presidential ticket.

    Last Friday, Wike slammed Atiku Abubakar for lying against him, although he vowed to remain in the PDP.

    Atiku has promised to united the party ahead of the presidential poll next year.

  • I picked who can deliver over Wike – Atiku

    I picked who can deliver over Wike – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

    Reports have it that Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

    He said, “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

    “In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

    “In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

    Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had on June 29, 2022, during an interview on Arise TV, said Wike, and others who backed the Rivers governor for the PDP vice-presidential ticket slot deserved a detailed explanation from the party’s presidential candidate on his choice of running mate.

    This was as he also said he had resorted to fast and prayers to seek God’s direction after the emergence of Okowa as the running mate to Atiku ahead of Wike.

    Ortom said it was surprising that Atiku could jettison the recommendation of 14 out of 17 members of the committee that recommended Wike as his running mate.

    Ortom said, “I am waiting for him (Atiku) because there are more things he is expected to do. I expected him to reach out to Wike who came second and he denied him the popular view of PDP members. 14 out of 17 members say that Wike should be the VP but in his wisdom, he chose Governor Okowa. Governor Okowa is a nice man and my friend and I have no problem with him. But if we are in a democratic era, and 14 people out of 17 said that it should be Wike, and he (Atiku) in his wisdom gave it to Okowa, I expect more explanation, I expect him to talk to Wike first, I expect him to even reach out to some of us so that together we can work as a party.

    “But the bottom line for me is that I have gone into hibernation and I am praying and at the end, whatever God directs me, I can assure you that I will do it.”

    But speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

    He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

    Atiku said, “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

    “The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

    On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

    “We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

    “We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

    He added, “I have contested this presidency a couple of times and I don’t try to blame anybody, I accept the outcome or go to court,” Atiku said.

    Atiku also noted that he was driven by the passion to serve the country.

    “I’m driven by passion and desire to give back to this country. I’m driven by the passion to give back to this country because of what the country has done for me.

    “With what I have been able to accomplish at my age, I don’t desire any other thing other than the passion to serve my country.

    Speaking on zoning, Atiku said the PDP had never agreed to zone presidency to the South, noting that there was no concession like that.

    “We never zoned to any part of the country,” he said.

  • 2023: Atiku Would Restore Nigeria’s Loss Glory- Musa Saye

    2023: Atiku Would Restore Nigeria’s Loss Glory- Musa Saye

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    A popular political singer from Kano state,Alhaji Musa Saye has disclosed that Nigeria would bounce back if Nigerians elects Atiku Abubakar as president in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

    He stated this in a chat with our correspondent in Kano, adding that Nigeria has suffered for about eight years of APC leadership but the Waziri of Adamawa is set to restore the lost glory of the country in the hands of the ruling party, calling all citizens to vote for Atiku Abubakar under the PDP Platform.

    Alhaji Musa Saye lamented that ” we have seen how Atiku Abubakar contributed to the general development of our country during Obasanjo’s regime serving as Vice president, and as I know Waziri of Adamawa, his policies would makes our nation great and exemplary in Africa and the world at large”. He emphasized.

    In conclusion, Musa Saye announced that his political singing would continue to give good orientation to the Nigeri’as electorates due to elects credible leaders like Atiku Abubakar whose ideologies remained for human endeavors.

  • PDP Crisis: I Won’t Rest Until All Aggrieved Members Are Brought Back – Atiku

    PDP Crisis: I Won’t Rest Until All Aggrieved Members Are Brought Back – Atiku

    Following the crisis that engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as vice presidential candidate of the opposition party, the Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to put in place measures to placate all aggrieved members.

    Recall we had reported how the choice of Okowa plunged the opposition party into crisis.

    Amid the full-blown disagreement among party leaders, some persons called for the eviction of the national chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

    In a chat with Daily Trust on Thursday, Atiku’s spokesman, Mr. Paul Ibe, said since the conclusion of the process that produced Okowa, the former vice-president had commenced the process of bringing members of the party together.

    He said it was normal for people to be aggrieved after such exercise but added that he would not rest until every party member is on the same page in the bid to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The unity of the PDP is paramount to him, because he sees it as a step towards unifying the country as a whole after seven years of division arising from the non inclusiveness of the APC administration.

    “He will not relent until every stakeholder, every leader of the party and member is brought on board. They should know that the enemies are not within PDP, they are the APC that have made life unbearable for the people. So it is important for everyone to join hands and make sure the APC is kicked out. The process has been on, it is ongoing and he will continue the process until everyone is brought on board.”

    Commenting on the PDP crisis earlier on Thursday, Atiku had said efforts were bring made to resolve grievances of party members.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party will remain united. Focus on our actions. We are taking action to address the feelings of all party members. The unity in our community is my priority. Our resolve to unify Nigeria starts in our party and moves to the community, then on to society.”

    “Every Governor, Legislator, and other elected officials produced by our party, and party members and loyalists, are much loved and respected by me. When they speak, I listen. I do not only listen. Appropriate actions have been taken, are being taken, and will continue to be advanced,” he had tweeted.

  • 2023: Why I Choose Okowa as my Running Mate – Atiku

    2023: Why I Choose Okowa as my Running Mate – Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has said he was in search of a credible vice presidential candidate who has the potential of succeeding him.

    Unveiling the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate on Thursday at the party’s headquarters, Atiku said Okowa has the potential he sought for.

    Atiku also said his running mate must understand the security challenges of the country, stressing that he (running mate) must have the ability to speak his mind on issues bothering the nation.

    The PDP presidential candidate stated that Okowa possesses all qualities needed for the job of a Vice president.

    According to him, Okowa has done well in education and other sectors as governor of Delta State.

    Reports had earlier emerged that Atiku would be picking the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as his running mate.

    But according to some analysts, Wike may be too big for the office of Vice president and may not be loyal to Atiku as expected.

  • BREAKING: Atiku Finally Announce Okowa As Running Mate

    BREAKING: Atiku Finally Announce Okowa As Running Mate

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has finally unveiled Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.

    He unveiled Okowa at the PDP headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

    Okowa and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State were initially pencilled down for the role of Atiku’s running mate.

    Speaking during the unveiling, the former Vice President said his running mate must be able to speak his mind freely.

    He also said Okowa must be ready to work with him at all times.

    Atiku said the decision of his “running mate was a difficult decision, but I’m not afraid to take such decisions.”