The Presidency has berated a former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, over his accusations against the nation’s judiciary, describing his action as laughable.
The Presidency stated that Atiku’s bid to blackmail the judiciary will fail, and described his claims as “laughable and jejune.”
Having lost in the last election to President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the presidency said the former Vice President’s statement was an attempt to cast aspersions on the current administration without providing any evidence.
The Presidency characterised Atiku’s allegations as containing “innuendos, insinuations, and outright lies” while lacking any substantial argument.
The Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, Dele Alake, stated that, “If the former Vice President believes in democracy and the sanctity of the Judiciary, as claimed, he would not engage in making spurious and wild allegations aimed at disparaging and discrediting an important arm of government that should serve as the bulwark for our democracy.”
Alake further accused Atiku of attempting to intimidate and blackmail the Judiciary, despite being involved in a case before the Presidential Election Petition Court.
The Presidency also highlighted Tinubu’s role in championing the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
The Presidency emphasised that President Tinubu had successfully challenged decisions of the previous PDP-led Federal Government in defense of the rights of states as federating units.
Refuting any intent to undermine the judiciary, the Presidency stated that President Tinubu won a free, fair, and credible election, which was the most transparent election conducted in Nigeria since 1999.
The President’s legal team, along with that of the APC, presented a strong defense of the election results, and the Presidency expressed confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality.
Alake called on Atiku Abubakar to refrain from discrediting the important institution of the state and to allow the judiciary to perform its sacred duty without interference.
The Presidency branded his actions as “disingenuous, shameful, and unbecoming” of a former Vice President of Nigeria and urged him to put an end to this “desperation.”
According to Alake“It is on record and to his eternal credit that President Tinubu, through the instrumentality of the law and Judiciary, successfully challenged many of the draconian and obnoxious decisions of the PDP-led Federal Government that trampled on the rights of the States as federating units. Lagos State under the leadership of the then Governor Tinubu won over 13 cases up to the Supreme Court against the hydra-headed PDP administration at the centre.
“No leader with such a sterling and enviable credential as a champion of rule of law, independence of judiciary like President Tinubu will ever contemplate undermining the Judiciary as alleged by Alhaji Atiku.
“President Tinubu won a free, fair and credible election. The February 25, 2023 Presidential election that produced him is the most transparent election ever conducted in Nigeria since 1999.
“President Tinubu and the APC absolutely have no reason to undermine the judiciary in the hope of any favourable judgement.
“His lawyers and that of APC have presented very solid defence of the result of the election and we are sure the judiciary will impartially deliver its ruling on the basis of points of law and evidence before it, not based on presumptuous speculations and unfounded accusations.
“Atiku Abubakar should be honourable enough as a statesman to allow the Judiciary perform its sacred duty without harassment and this resort to self-help.
“Attempting to discredit an important institution of State for selfish political end is disingenuous, shameful and unbecoming of a former Vice President of Nigeria. This desperation must stop,” he stated.
