Just barely few hours after Justice Mohammed Tanko,the Chief Justice of Nigeria led-panel ruled that the petition filled by the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the concluded presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the poll lacked merit and had been dismissed by the apex court, Nigerians didn’t fail to express their feelings over the verdict.
The president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari while reacting to the Supreme Court judgement said through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu that there are no more distractions as his government would now focus on addressing cogent issues concerning the country.
‘This matter (Atiku’s case) is now closed…the opposition as much as the government must now move on;and without the need for further distractions. The elected President and his government now must be enabled to focus solely on addressing the issues that concern the country”, he said.
However,the presidential candidate of PDP in the February 23, 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar expressed his disappointment at the verdict but opines that he didn’t regret engaging in legal battle to reclaim his mandate.
“I must accept that the judicial route I chose to take ,as a democrat,has come to a conclusion. Whether justice was done, is left to the Nigerian people to decide. As a democrat, I fought a good fight for the Nigerian people.I will keep fighting for Nigeria and for democracy and also for justice”, Atiku said.
The presidential candidate of PDP also said contesting in the future is not part of his plans at the moment adding that his spirit is not broken over the Supreme Court verdict.
Excel Magazine gathered that both the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila expressed their happiness over the Apex court ruling by congratulating Mr. President in separate statements.
Lawn said that the verdict had put an an indelible seal on their victory in the presidential election’.
Gbajabiamila said that “Buhari’s victory at the Supreme Court is a victory for democracy. Mr. Atiku Abubakar… and the PDP should accept the judgement in good faith and in the spirit of sportsmanship”.
According to reports reaching Excel Magazine, the chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus is of the opinion that though Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal by his party and it’s presidential candidate, final judgement would come from the Lord, adding that Nigerians should remain resolute.
But the National Leader of the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) was impressed with the Apex court verdict and urged the opposition party to join the ruling party in moving Nigeria more rapidly and assuredly.
Nigerian President Buhari 
Atiku Abubakar
