“As a self-avowed democrat, he should realize that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.” The Nigerian Government has warned Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), of the “dire consequences” to expect if he continues resorting to self-help in his bid to reverse the outcome of the February 23 presidential election.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, reveals the warning message in Abuja on Thursday when he briefing journalists in company of Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.
According a report from SaharaReporters on Tuesday, said that Atiku is presently lobbying the United States for support in his ambition to challenge the outcome of the presidential election, based on that, and he has paid $30,000 over a 90-day contract for a US law firm to produce “legal, consultancy and public advocacy services to encourage Congress and the Executive” to wait on recognizing a winner of the Nigerian election until after the legal challenge is “impartially and independently resolved”.
Controversial posters of Atiku have also surfaced in Abuja; and although the former Vice President has since dissociated himself from the sight, Mohammed warned Atiku to remember that the courts are the only permissible channel for challenging the result of the election.
Lai Mohmmad said “As you must have noticed in recent times, posters bearing the picture of former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with the inscription ‘THE PUKKA, H.E. ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE REAL AND THE RIGHT’, have surfaced across major streets in Abuja,”
“The appearance of these posters coincide with the media reports that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hired a US lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit by the PDP presidential candidate
“The posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, the latest of such by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what Alhaji Abubakar is up to. Is he starting a fresh campaign after the elections have been won and lost?”
“Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s motive?” he questioned.
“Gentlemen, we are aware of media reports that the PDP presidential candidate on Wednesday distanced himself from the posters that are circulating in Abuja. He also reportedly denied hiring US lobbyists, claiming tongue-in-cheek that the APC fabricated the report.
“If the media reports are right, it means that the former Vice President has suddenly realized the grave implication of his actions, hence has decided to beat a quick retreat before it is too late.
“As a self-avowed democrat, he should realize that the only lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.”
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