Supreme Court Verdict: ‘Rise Up, Congratulate Tinubu’ – Presidency Tells Atiku

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the Febuary 25th election, Atiku Abubakar, to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal challenging the 2023 presidential election.

Naija News reports that Atiku had argued that Tinubu submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and asked the court to allow him to file the evidence obtained from Tinubu’s record at Chicago State University.

But Tinubu objected on the grounds that Atiku made the plea outside the 180-days stipulated period.

The seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, in his ruling on Thursday, held that Atiku’s appeal lacked merit and “is hereby dismissed.”

Reacting to the verdict, the presidential aide, in a post via X, urged Atiku to act as a true statesman and boldly congratulate President Tinubu on his victory at the 2023 poll.

Temitope noted that considering the court ruling, it was evident that Tinubu won the majority of lawful votes and was validly elected as Nigeria’s president.

He wrote: “Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should now rise up, act true to type, as a statesman and congratulate President Bola Tinubu, his old ally and friend. From the Supreme Court proceedings so far, it is clear that President Tinubu won the majority of lawful votes and was validly elected as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”