The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturday’s election, Atiku Abubakar has assured President Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians that he would reclaim his “stolen mandate” in court.
Atiku, a former Vice President who addressed a world press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the outcome of the election which saw Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner did not reflect the will of the people.
Atiku, a former Vice President who addressed a world press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the outcome of the election which saw Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner did not reflect the will of the people.
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BEING TEXT OF A WORLD PRESS
CONFERENCE BY ATIKU ABUBAKAR, CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLES DMOCRATIC PARTY
IN THE FEBRUARY 23, 2019 ELECTIONS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Dear citizens of Nigeria,
Let me start by thanking you for choosing democracy as the settled system of government for our great nation.
Democracy is a government of the people by the people, only when
the people’s choice prevails. That did not happen on Saturday, February
23, 2019.
On Election Day, we saw the implementation of grand theft of the
people’s will. I am not one for hyperbole so I will just let the facts
speak for themselves.
In Akwa Ibom for instance, the results showed a statistical
impossibility of a 62% drop in voter numbers from the 2015 elections
even where voter registration and PVC collection rates were much higher
than in 2015.
This pattern was repeated in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party, including in Delta, Rivers, Abia and Benue states.
As this was occurring, we saw another statistical impossibility
wherein voter turnout and numbers increased astronomically in Borno
State by an almost miraculous 82% in the midst of increased insecurity.
This pattern was also repeated in other strongholds of the All Progressive Congress.
One begins to ask if insecurity is conducive to higher voter turnouts and security is antithetical to high voter turnout.
It is further curious that the Peoples Democratic Party’s margin of
victory in states outside the Southeast and South-south were extremely
slim across board. That again is a statistical impossibility.
The fact is that when you calmly look at the numbers declared by
the Independent National Electoral Commission as results of the February
23, 2019 elections, they do not add up.
Let me say that I am not speaking as a member of the Peoples
Democratic Party. I am speaking as a Nigerian when I say that the
electoral fraud perpetrated by the Buhari administration this past
Saturday cannot produce a government of the people for the simple reason
that it does not reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
It is for this reason that I, Atiku Abubakar, reject the results
declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission declaring
Muhammadu Buhari as duly returned by the majority of lawful votes.
I am conferring with not just my party, but also with the Nigerian
people, on next steps, which will be revealed to the public shortly.
For my fellow Nigerians who feel angry, disillusioned, and let down
by the process, I appeal to you to remain calm and steadfast. Rome was
not built in a day. We have the real figures, we have the facts that
were spoken so loudly on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
This is a long journey, but I am confident of victory. All hope is not lost. Stay strong, by the grace of God we shall triumph.
And to investors and friends of Nigeria now pulling out of Nigeria,
I urge you to be patient and keep faith with the Nigerian people. Your
quarrel is not with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is with those who
stole their mandate. Please do not punish the people by divesting from
Nigeria.
Thank you all and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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Politics