Former President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the judgement of the Supreme Court that dismissed the petitions filed against his successor, President Bola Tinubu’s election.
Buhari said the judgement is a relief to him and many Nigerians.
The apex court on Thursday dismissed the petitions filed by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party’s, Mr. Peter Obi.
The Justice John Okoro-led seven-man panel ruled that the petitions by Abubakar and Obi lacked merit.
Buhari urged Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi to take the hand of fellowship extended to them by the Tinubu-led administration.
The former President stated this in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by his former Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Thursday.
Shehu stated, “The former President repeated what he said on the earlier 6 September verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court which affirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory that the decision is “a reaffirmation of the will of the majority of the people against the determined will of a hard-fighting minority.”
Buhari stated that the opposition (both Abubakar and Obi) had fought a “good fight,” adding that they should “take the hand of fellowship extended” by the Tinubu-led administration.
“Now that we have arrived at the last bus stop, after a tortuous 8-months of expensive legal journey, the nation deserves a break. The opposition has fought a good fight. Having now exhausted their rights as constitutionally allowed, they should take the hand of fellowship extended by the Tinubu/Shettima APC government.
“Let them allow the government to run their administration and the people to have the benefit of the promises the All Progressives Congress, APC made.
“Buhari urged Nigerians, especially those living in the urban areas, to exercise their civic rights to vote, “and this should change given the acceptance and vibrancy of democracy in Nigeria”, the post said.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau also has hailed the Supreme Court judgement.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Barau described the judgement as a victory for democracy, urging the appellants to join hands with President Tinubu to address the challenges facing the country.
While urging the appellants to accept the ruling by the apex court in good faith, he commended the justices of the court for upholding the verdict of the electorate who voted for President Tinubu during the presidential election.
Barau said: “The legal battle is over with today’s judgement of the Supreme Court, affirming the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 25th February 2023 presidential election. Nigerians have won, democracy has won, and the country will be better for it.
“I commend the justices of the Supreme Court for upholding the verdict of the Nigerian electorate who voted for President Tinubu during the presidential election. It is now time for all to team up with the president to actualise his lofty programmes and policies for the development of our country as captured in the Renewed Hope Agenda”.
He reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to come up with legislation to support the various initiatives of the executive for the revival of the economy, attainment of sustainable peace, unity and development of Nigeria as a whole.
