Posted by By NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha on
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed insinuations that he would not appeal the judgment of the presidential election Petition tribunal, saying that he has a duty to protect the democratic rights of Nigerians which, he said, was flagrantly breached in the April 21 presidential election.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed insinuations that he would not appeal the judgment of the presidential election Petition tribunal, saying that he has a duty to protect the democratic rights of Nigerians which, he said, was flagrantly breached in the April 21 presidential election.
Addressing the National Executive Committee, zonal vice chairmen, and state chairmen of the party in Abuja yesterday, Atiku declared: 'We have a responsibility to Nigerians and ourselves to protect our democratic rights. That is the only guarantee that our children and generations yet unborn would enjoy democracy in this country."
He said his lawyers are working on his appeal and that they will file the case within the time limit provided by the Nigerian law.
Atiku also asked the National Executive Committee of the party to consider taking disciplinary measures against state chapters that have, in clear disregard of party directives, gone into partnership with PDP state government to subvert democracy and rule of law.
He cautioned that this must follow due process so that the AC is not branded like the PDP.
In his own speech, the Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, commended members of the party for the commitment they have shown for democratic struggle in the country. He enjoined them to continue to keep to the vision of the party and ensure that their commitment to the enthronement of democracy in the country does not waiver.
While commenting on a group which claims to be members of the AC but which had been advocating the need to participate in the Government of National Unity as proposed by the PDP Federal Government, Chief Akande recalled that the leadership of the party in consultation with all relevant organs of the party collectively decided not to join the GNU.
He said the people claiming to be AC members clamouring for membership of the GNU cannot, therefore, correctly claim to be members of the party.
Meanwhile, former governor of Lagos State and chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have denied speculations that he plans to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He also stated that he has no plans to accept any political appointment from the PDP Federal Government.
Asiwaju Tinubu said he could not contemplate joining the PDP because it is a 'Poverty Development Party". He also explained that his relationship with the presidential candidate of the AC and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is cordial contrary to wide speculations of enmity between the two of them. He said Atiku is his 'brother" and that nothing could put the two of them apart.
Tinubu also took the occasion to denounce reports that he was opposed to the former Vice President approaching the Supreme Court to appeal the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal. He said the former Vice President 'has every right to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the tribunal".
'Anything to the contrary said about me on this issue should be dismissed," he said.
The two-day conference of the AC, which began on Tuesday in Abuja, was convened to review the political situation in the country and to restate the commitment of the party to democratic rule.