From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Action Democratic Party (ADP), has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the judgement of the Supreme Court.
The Apex Court had upheld the victory of President Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a petition brought forth by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, standard bearers of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).
ADP National Chairman, Yusuf Sani, at a press yesterday, after the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party, in Abuja, noted that the outcome of the verdict reaffirmed the dreams of the country’s founding fathers of a united nation.
Sani, also, hailed the doggedness of Atiku and Obi for challenging the outcome of the process against all odds.
“It gives me a great pleasure to address you today on some of the resolutions at the just concluded NEC meeting of the party held at the headquarters of party here in abuja.
“Our party will first of all will want congratulate Nigerians on conclusion of the general election.
“We congratulate Nigerians because we believe democracy triumphed. There is no winner no vanguished because it was about democracy, it’s about upholding constitutional democracy as practiced here, and that’s why our party thought is wise to congratulate Nigerians.
“Most especially the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, and his team for haven delivered the election from the begining to the end of the process, that had produced governments at national and state levels.
“I also want to congratulate the winners of this process, those who participated in the process, they are all winners because they contributed to the process.
“I want to recognize the role played by the former Vice President of this country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi for their doggedness in ensuring that democracy survives.
“I want to use this opportunity to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being given the mantle of leadership to lead this country to the promised land.
“The dreams of our forefathers today are being further reaffirmed by the judgment of the Supreme court which had brought a closure to the an endless battle.
“We also want to recognize the fact that Nigerians in there numbers trooped out and participated in the process.
“Some disappointments that were recorded in the process can be attributed to the learning process.
“We have to understand that the Electoral Act which was being tested for the first time as a result of the innovations threw up a lot of challenges not only to us, political parties and the electorate but also to the umpire.
“I want to believe that the umpire must have learned their lessons, and they will make us proud in the forthcoming off season governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states.
“The NEC of ADP recognized the fact that the elections were full of drawbacks in the sense that money was used and in mist cases the law was circumvented by people who were supposed to keep it to ensure a smooth process.
“In some places were our candidates win elections, the victory was taken away from us, in some cases we went up to the Court of Appeal with the mist glaring evidence, but victory was still denied us. That also happened to other political parties.
“I want to appeal to the conscience of some of the parties, to be more democratic to allow the process to become a source of pride for Nigeria. we will like to congratulate the Press, for being very passionate and above board because in most cases nothing was left out in your reporting, regardless of who is involved.
“ADP wants to thank you for being on the side of democracy. Part of the resolution of our party is that, the governors, should be more democratic, understand that every party has a right to be given the opportunity to contribute to the administration of this country.
“The manner in which the governors behaved in the last election left so much to be desired.
“ADP members tried and did everything possible in terms of campaigning, mobilization of resources on logistics but at the end of the day it appeared might was right. And that’s not what democracy represents.
“Our party believes that the future will be very bright and ready to sustain our contribution to democracy.
“Our party is still hopeful that the judgments pending in Courts if Appeal will favour us. We are ready as Democrats to give this country the best administration that it deserves.
“I want to once again thank you for listening to me and once again congratulate Nigerians for the victory which democracy recorded today.”