As with the Labour Party flag bearer Peter Obi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to challenge the victory of his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Bola Tinubu, in last weekend’s election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the early hours of Wednesday, declared Tinubu winner of the election.
The INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, announced that Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and 15 other candidates in the contest.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, insisted that its candidate won the election, and vowed to challenge the outcome in court.
The LP candidate had earlier vowed to seek redress in the law court, to reclaim what he described as his stolen mandate.
Atiku Abubakar, who addressed journalists at a media briefing in Abuja, described the February 25 presidential election as a “rape of democracy.”
He added that the election presented Nigerians with a rare opportunity to reset the country, regretting that it was bungled by INEC.
The former Vice President also insisted that he was not aware of any reconciliatory moves by the president-elect.
“The battle to fight the wrong of Saturday is not about me but about the future of Nigeria. The battle is to deepen democracy and the future of the youth.
“Without a doubt, INEC failed woefully to live up to expectations. The manipulations and fraud were glaring and unprecedented.
“The process and outcome of the presidential election were grossly flawed in every aspect. It was a rape of democracy.”