The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has inaugurated his legal team to challenge the outcome of the February 25 election.
The former vice president who briefed the team at his campaign headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, mandated them to “establish the claim of illegality in the February 25 presidential election and reclaim the mandate of the Nigerian people.”
The team comprising 19 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) is headed by JK Gadzama. Others on the team are Chief Chris Uche, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Chief Emeka Etiaba, Mr. Paul Usoro, Tayo Jegede, Ken Mozia, Mahmood Magaji, Joe Abraham, Chukwuma Umeh, Dr. Garba Tetengi,, Chief Goddy Uche, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, National Legal Adviser of the PDP, A. K. Ajibade, Mr. O. M. Atoyebi, Mrs. Nella Rabana, Paul Ogbole, Nuremi Jimoh and Abdul Ibrahim.
In a statement by his media office, Atiku was quoted as saying “apart from reclaiming the mandate from those who undertook the electoral heist that was not a reflection of the will of Nigerians, the legal team should also use the opportunity of the trial to strengthen constitutional democracy in the country.”
Atiku said it was imperative that the legal team work assiduously in reclaiming the mandate, not necessarily because of him and PDP, but to strengthen democracy and the electoral process for generations unborn. Standard bearer of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is also challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election.
Tinubu, the president-elect, on Tuesday constituted his legal team to defend his mandate.