The Atiku Abubakar Democratic Institute (AADI) on Monday in Lagos expressed confidence that the nation’s judiciary will deliver justice to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
Director-General of the institute, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, expressed this confidence at a world press conference held at the institute’s office along Ikorodu Road, saying the purpose of the conference was to express support for the former vice president Atiku Abubakar and his party at the tribunal where they were currently challenging result of the 2019 presidential election in the country.
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Others, who also spoke on support, Secretary-General, Movement for NigerianRestructuring, Barrister Fred Nzeako; National Convener, Project774ForAtiku2019, Dr. Dani Adamu; among others, said the country’s judiciary was now the focus of attention of the whole world and, therefore, the need for it to rise above the board and deliver a credible judgment without bias.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Pearse described the case now before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as a litmus test, urging Nigerians, democrats and all advocates of rule of law the world over to pay close attention.
“We wish to encourage Nigerians, Democrats and all advocates of the rule of law the world over to pay close attention to the case which can be regarded as a litmus test of the integrity of our country’s electoral system.
“We encourage the justices of the Supreme Court to adjudicate this Atiku/PDP appeal without fear or favour,” Pearse, who was the governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last election said.
Also speaking, Dr. Adamu, who is the originator of Desrvation.org and the Advocate of “Justice delayed is not justice denied, Justice Is Justice!” hailed supporters and well-meaning Nigerians for maintaining peace and remaining hopeful that their mandate would be returned to them soon, recalling the exploit of the PDP/Atiku legal team and the steadfastness of the witnesses and technical experts, which he described as convincing.
“Most Nigerians have witnessed our efforts at the tribunal. The brilliance shown by our legal team and the steadfastness of our witnesses and technical experts have indeed convinced us beyond a reasonable doubt that Atiku is coming,” he said.
Adamu, in his lecture, titled: “Stolen mandate will never yield any good for Nigeria,” equally said the whole world had focused on the nation’s judiciary, looking forward to how the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal would deliver justice without fear or favour.
He expressed his concern over the arrest and continued detention of Sahara Reporters Publisher, Mr Omoyele Sowore and other Nigerians for planning simple civil disobedience, saying this act to forcefully suppress any opposing view, portend a looming danger in the country.
“This press conference will be incomplete if we do not speak out against the looming anarchy in the country as a result of the president’s actions to forcefully suppress any opposing view, which is guaranteed by our constitution. I am referring to the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr Omoyele Sowore and other Nigerians for planning simple civil disobedience,” he said, even as he lamented that the police and Army had become government’s instruments of suppression and unconstitutional actions against the lawful protest.
He, therefore, urged the government to unconditionally release Sowore without further delay.
“I call on the government to unconditionally release Mr Sowore without further delay. The government must guarantee his safety and well-being and those of his comrades. Enough of this unconstitutional behaviour!” Adamu said.
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