Mr. Buhari commended the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) for what he described as a historic achievement, rejecting intimidation and biases to uphold the law and respect the choices made by a majority of citizens. Former President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his contentment with the PEPC's ruling, affirming Bola Tinubu's victory in the presidential election held on February 25.
He also praised the five-member PEPC panel for their courage in the face of intimidation. Garba Shehu, the senior special adviser on media and publicity to the former president, relayed this information in a statement on Thursday.
In a unanimous verdict delivered on Wednesday, the PEPC panel, led by Haruna Tsammani, dismissed the petitions challenging Bola Tinubu's presidential election victory. Notably, the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) had filed petitions contesting Tinubu's win on the APC ticket.
Mr. Shehu, in his statement, conveyed the former president's satisfaction with the PEPC's judgment, which confirmed the victory of the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima, in the February 25 election.
Buhari emphasized that the PEPC's decision marked a momentous moment in history as it defied intimidation and prejudice to ensure justice in accordance with the law, a move that aligned with the wishes of the majority of citizens. He noted that the real winners in this verdict were democracy and the people, underscoring that the election period had come to an end, and it was time to move past the contentious issues.
Furthermore, Mr. Buhari urged Nigerians to offer unwavering support to the incoming Tinubu administration to enable the fulfillment of its promises to the people. He expressed gratitude to all citizens for maintaining peace during this period and wished for ongoing progress and development under the APC government.
The former president extended warm congratulations to the President, Vice President, and the All Progressives Congress on their victory in court, extending his best wishes for them to fulfill the aspirations of the people.
It's noteworthy that the February presidential election took place during Mr. Buhari's presidency, and he had advised those dissatisfied with the election results to seek legal redress rather than resorting to street protests. Mr. Buhari, who is also a member of the APC, handed over the presidency to Bola Tinubu on May 29, concluding his second four-year term in office.
