ABUJA, Nigeria — The Presidency on Saturday, July 22, 2023, accused Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate in the last election, of attempting to blackmail the judiciary, declaring that such attempts would be futile.
The response came in a statement by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President (Special Duties, Communications & Strategy), following Atiku’s claims of governmental plans to undermine the judiciary.
“We have read the laughable and jejune statement by former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,” Alake stated, arguing that the defeated candidate was attempting to stir controversy with baseless claims.
“It is obvious that having been thoroughly defeated by the All Progressives Congress and now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former Vice President has not fully recovered from the shock of defeat.”
Alake further criticized Atiku’s accusations for lacking substantial evidence. “Apart from innuendos, insinuations and outright lies contained in the said press statement, the former Vice President Atiku didn’t put forward any convincing argument to support his claims on how the President Tinubu-led administration and APC sought to undercut, undermine and compromise the judiciary,” he said.
Highlighting the administration’s commitment to the rule of law, Alake praised President Tinubu’s history of challenging “draconian and obnoxious decisions” that infringed on states’ rights.
“When President Tinubu was leading the charge against the emasculation of the judiciary… Alhaji Atiku was nowhere to be found.”
He further asserted that the President and APC won the February 25th, 2023 Presidential election transparently, adding that they had no reason to undermine the judiciary.
“His lawyers and that of APC have presented very solid defense of the result of the election, and we are sure the judiciary will impartially deliver its ruling based on points of law and evidence before it, not based on presumptuous speculations and unfounded accusations,” Alake continued.
The Presidential aide concluded with a stern message for Atiku, calling him to respect the judiciary and let it perform its duty without harassment.
“Attempting to discredit an important institution of State for selfish political end is disingenuous, shameful and unbecoming of a former Vice President of Nigeria. This desperation must stop,” he concluded.
