THE leadership of United Progressive Party (UPP) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari over what it described as the resounding landmark verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which upheld his election in February, 2019.
“Justice has been served just as this victory is essentially victory for democracy,” said Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman of UPP in a statement on Wednesday.
The party recall the decision of its National Executive Committee (NEC) on August 17, 2018, when the
to support President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for 2019 Presidential election.
” We unambiguously stated in our address to the press immediately after our NEC meeting of the same date that we would contribute our quota to ensure that the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 23rd February 2019 Presidential Election would be so resounding in a manner that would make any petition against the outcome of the election to be a “mere and unnecessary national distraction,”
“On 20th November, 2018, the leaders of our Party led by our National Chairman, Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie were granted audience at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to meet with the President where the Party conveyed its resolution not to present a Presidential Candidate on the platform of the UPP in order to focus our attention and energy in
campaigning for him. He won the election with a margin of nearly four million votes to his closest rival.”
Okorie said his party had advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of sportsmanship.
“Unfortunately, they opted to proceed to the Tribunal with their petition against the election of President BuhariTrue to our prediction, they have only succeeded in distracting the attention of the Nigerian people unnecessarily,” he said.
“We hope that their misadventure will be allowed to rest at this point, and save the nation of further distraction.”
The party urged the president to accept his victory with the magnanimity of a forgiving father, adding that he should remain focused in carrying out the onerous responsibilities of his
office.
“The United Progressive Party and its leadership are committed to remain constructively engaged with the President until the successful completion of his second and final tenure as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
