Atiku Addresses World Press Conference, May Get International Backing as He Shakes Aso Rock
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, has described the results of the February 23 Presidential election, as “electoral fraud”, and vowed to reclaim his “mandate”.
Though, Atiku had earlier said that he was heading to the court over the alleged manipulation of the Electoral process by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, he told Journalists during a Press briefing, which held at the Atiku Abubakar Auditorium, Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, that he is consulting with Nigerians, on the next line of action.
Describing Saturday’s Presidential election as a grand theft of the people’s will, Atiku stated that it was the worst Presidential election in the past three decades of the nation’s political history.
He noted that the election was not capable of producing a government, because it did not reflect the wishes and aspirations of Nigerian voters.
The PDP Candidate, pleaded with foreign investors not to lose confidence in the country.
Read the statement in full below:
Dear citizens of Nigeria,
Let me start by thanking you for choosing democracy, as the settled system of government for our great nation.
Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, only when the people’s choice prevails. That did not happen on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
On Election Day, we saw the implementation of grand theft of the people’s will. I am not one for hyperbole, so I will just let the facts speak for themselves.
In Akwa-Ibom for instance, the results showed a statistical impossibility of a 62% drop in voter numbers from the 2015 elections, even where voter registration and PVC collection rates were much higher than in 2015.
This pattern was repeated in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party, including in Delta, Rivers, Abia, and Benue States.
As this was occurring, we saw another statistical impossibility, wherein voter turnout and numbers increased astronomically in Borno State, by an almost miraculous 82%, in the midst of increased insecurity.
This pattern was also repeated in other strongholds of the All Progressive Congress.
One begins to ask, if insecurity is conducive to higher voter turnouts, and security is antithetical to high voter turnout.
It is further curious that the Peoples Democratic Party’s margin of victory in States outside the South-East and South-South, were extremely slim across board. That again is a statistical impossibility.
The fact is that when you calmly look at the numbers declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, as results of the February 23, 2019 elections, they do not add up.
Let me say that I am not speaking as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. I am speaking as a Nigerian, when I say that the electoral fraud perpetrated by the Buhari administration this past Saturday, cannot produce a government of the people, for the simple reason that it does not reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
It is for this reason that I, Atiku Abubakar, reject the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, declaring Muhammadu Buhari as duly returned by the majority of lawful votes.
I am conferring with not just my party, but also with the Nigerian people, on next steps, which will be revealed to the public shortly.
For my fellow Nigerians who feel angry, disillusioned, and let down by the process, I appeal to you to remain calm and steadfast. Rome was not built in a day. We have the real figures, we have the facts that were spoken so loudly on Saturday, February 23, 2019.
This is a long journey, but I am confident of victory. All hope is not lost. Stay strong, by the grace of God, we shall triumph.
And to investors and friends of Nigeria now pulling out of Nigeria, I urge you to be patient and keep faith with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is not with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is with those who stole their mandate. Please, do not punish the people by divesting from Nigeria.
Thank you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
