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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the declaration and return of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Tinubu as president-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, the PDP asked INEC to immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Tinubu and cancel the presidential election declaration in line with its powers under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the party, INEC in declaring the APC presidential candidate as the winner, acted contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of the 2023 Presidential election.
The PDP held that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, clearly won the February 25, 2023, presidential election having evidently scored the majority of lawful votes cast by Nigerians at the polling units.
The PDP therefore asserts that consequent upon the violation by INEC of Section 60 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and its Rules and Guidelines on the election, the results announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, having not been earlier transmitted DIRECTLY from the Polling Units before the announcement are ultra vires, of no consequence and cannot stand.
Consequently, the Party and its Presidential Candidate have commenced action for legal redress to reclaim our victory in the 2023 Presidential election.
We appeal to our numerous supporters in Nigeria and across the world to remain calm, resilient, resolute and steadfast in the defence of democracy and the victory of our Party in the 2023 Presidential elections.
