President Bola Tinubu says the judiciary demonstrated a high degree of professionalism in the challenge to his election.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), had challenged the outcome of the February 25 poll and Tinubu’s affirmation as winner by the petitions tribunal.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed pleas of the petitioners and upheld Tinubu’s election.

In a unanimous verdict, the court held that the appeals filed by Abubakar and Obi lacked merit and were “frivolous”.

Reacting to the verdict of the apex court, Tinubu said the judgment has laid the “agitating discourse over who truly won the 2023 presidential election” to rest. 

“I want to reiterate that my faith in our nation’s judiciary has never been shaken, not even for a moment, because I know that our hallowed courts of law will not fail to administer justice to all Nigerians in all matters and at all times,” the president said in a statement. 

“Despite the fusillade of pressure and attempts at intimidation by some political actors, the judiciary demonstrated its unequivocal commitment to upholding the rule of law for the upliftment and defence of humanity.

“It was affirmed once more today, that my party, the governing All Progressives’ Congress, had freely and fairly won the popular mandate of Nigerians, which has since given rise to my leadership of this great nation at a tumultuous period of unprecedented reforms in our history as a nation.”

Tinubu said the judgment has re-energised him in his bid to deliver good governance to Nigerians. 

“The victory of today has further energised and strengthened my commitment to continue to serve all Nigerians of all political persuasions, tribes, and faiths, with honour and total respect for the diverse opinions and uniting values of our citizens,” he said. 

“Our Renewed Hope agenda for a greater and prosperous Nigeria has further gained momentum and I will continue to work from morning to night, every single day, to build a country that meets our collective yearnings and aspirations.”

The Cable