The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s (PEPT) judgment declaring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election has been completely rejected by the Peter Obi Global Diaspora Support Network (POGDSN).
In a statement released on Friday and signed by Prof. Pat Obiefule, the convener, the group expressed dismay at the verdict and stated that the Justices’ decision did not accurately reflect the position of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As a result, it pledged to petition the Supreme Court to reclaim the mandate given to Obi by Nigerians at the presidential election.
The statement reads: “We, the Peter Obi Global Diaspora Support Network, POGDSN, hereby reject, in the strongest possible term, the entirety of the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, on the petition CA/PEPC/03/2023 filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, challenging the selection of Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“POGDSN is absolutely shocked, discontented, and dismayed by the PEPT’s judgment as it amounts to a total abdication of power to the executive arm of government in a manner indicative of state capture and does not reflect the independence of the judiciary as envisaged by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“POGDSN strongly condemns this judgment in its entirety as an attempt to legitimize the imposed presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dash the hope of ordinary and long-suffering Nigerians for a new nation anchored on the principles of justice, equity, and fairness, and grossly undermine the moral and ethical standard of the larger society.
“It is indeed a sad day for democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria! However, we remain resolute in our commitment to ensuring that the supremacy of the Constitution is upheld and, in particular, to reclaiming the people’s mandate freely and lawfully given to Mr. Peter Gregory Obi by Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country during the February 25, 2023 presidential election.”