Apex lgbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has advised the presidential candidate of peoples Democratic party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Labour party Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and Allied Peoples movement, APM, not to appeal the presidential election petition court PEPC’s ruling which upheld president Bola Tinubu’s victory.
Ohanaeze suggested that instead of the two main opposition parties appeal the judgement, should join hands with the All progressives Congress, APC, led federal government for the upliftment of the country.
The Presidential election Petition Court PEPC, sitting in Abuja had on Wednesday, dismissed PDP and LP’s petitions against President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 Presidential election for lack of merit.
A statement signed on Thursday by Ohanaeze’s Secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro, called on president Tinubu to reach out personally to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi and extend hands of fellowship to them for national healing and reconciliation.
“l call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to genuinely reach out personally to the Peoples Democracy Party PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, and extend hands of fellowship and friendship to them as a pragmatic footpath for National healing and reconciliation, after the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Verdict on 6th September 2023, is a commendable one.
“President Tinubu should indeed be magnanimous in victory and should personally visit Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. This would go a long way in dousing the heightened tensions and calming down the nerves of their supporters.
“It is also important to note that Atiku and Obi have the constitutional right to appeal the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to the Supreme Court. However, in the interest of peace and brotherhood, they should accept the verdict in good faith and should not appeal the Tribunal Judgment to the Supreme Court.
According to the statement, Ohanaeze calls on Nigerians, especially Ndigbo to remain peaceful and be their brother’s keeper stressing that there should be a deeper understanding that the challenges before us as a nation are enormous and should no longer be willing tools in the hands of desperate politicians.
It urged Ndigbo to strengthen their patriotism to the APC-led Federal Government for RENEWED HOPE’s developmental projects and dividends of Democracy to the people of the South-East.
The group called on Igbo residents in the Southwest and 19 Northern States to continue to maintain peaceful co-existence with their host communities and go about their normal business endeavors.
“We call on Nigerians to continue to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.