The Progressives Forum has described the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) that affirmed the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 General Election as a further affirmation of the support and trust that the Nigerian people have in the capacity of the President to lead and transform the country.
The Forum, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abuh Andrew Abuh, and its Secretary, Segun Tomori, noted that while the victory at the courts were expected, it has put to rest any further contest as the sanctity of the polls outcome has now been reaffirmed.
“We congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for their victory at the just concluded Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT). This victory has put to rest the needless distractions and unhealthy commentaries that surrounded the outcome of the just concluded 2023 general elections. With the affirmation of Mr. President’s victory, he and the members of his cabinet can now focus on the burden of governance whilst any other distractions have been laid to rest.
“We expected the victory to come our way. A vast majority of Nigerians voted Tinubu because they trusted in his capacity to deliver; they voted him for his enviable records as manifestly seen in Lagos. On the other hand, the petitioners had no case. All their arguments were watery, vacuous, and jocular. It was therefore no surprise to us that the Tribunal did justice by dismissing all the arguments advanced. The petitioners failed to produce any evidence to back their claims. In the eyes of any serious Nigerian, it was clear that this was a joke taken too far”.
“From the direction taken by the petitioners, it was clear that they were using the petition to simply attack the personality of Mr. President. They threw mud at his educational records, his family history, his work experience, and did everything to impugn his character, but none stuck.”
Mr. Abuh further commended the Justices of the Tribunal for their sound judgment and industry, describing the work of “combing through hundreds of pages of petitions, and evidence,” to deliver “detailed and well-prepared judgments” as an “onerous service to the nation.” He further urged citizens of the country who had supported the opposition parties to accept the outcome of the elections, move on, and support the President Bola Tinubu administration.
“Let me call on all Nigerians—whether supporters of the APC, PDP, APGA, LP, or whichever party you belong to—it is time to move on and build our nation. The court verdict marks the end of the political contest. We have a nation to take care of, and that job is a collective one that transcends political affiliations. It is now time to support President Bola Tinubu to get Nigeria working for all Nigerians. It is now time to forge ahead with the task of nation-building.
“The Progressives Forum uses this medium to emphasise that Nigeria belongs to us all, regardless of partisan leanings, and therefore whether the President was our preferred candidate or not, we have a duty to work with him for the prosperity of our country. The time for politics would come again, and we may choose our party lines then, but for now, Nigeria is the only party we have. “
