Atiku
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa on his re-election.
Atiku: No way ‘anti-democratic forces’
PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar congratulated Fintiri, saying that he deserved re-election.
On his Twitter page, he said the lessons from the exercise underscored the need for vigilance to prevent anti-democratic forces itching to undermine the people’s mandate.
He wrote: “Congratulations, Gov Ahmadu Fintiri, on your deserved reelection as governor of Adamawa State.
‘Thank you to the people of Adamawa and men and women of goodwill for staying the course in resisting coupists and enemies of democracy from having their way.
“The lesson from this exercise and others is the need for Nigerians to be vigilant and never give in to anti-democratic forces, whose objective is to snatch, run with and undermine the mandate of the people as freely expressed in their votes.
“By the way, it is not yet Uhuru as we still have one more major mandate to reclaim, and together as one, we shall accomplish the task for the good of our country and its people.”
PDP, governors, rejoice
PDP expressed joy over the victory, describing it as the triumph of democracy.
It said in a statement: “The spontaneous jubilation of citizens in Adamawa State and across our nation at the official declaration of Governor Fintiri as the rightful winner of the election irrespective of the nefarious schemes by the rejected APC is a confirmation that the PDP and its candidate are indeed the choices of the people.
“Governor Fintiri’s overwhelming victory is a validation that the will of the people cannot be subdued no matter the plot by a tyrannic, domineering and power-grabbing few who, with over-bloated ambition, desperately sought to subvert our democracy, scuttle the electoral process, compromise the judiciary, subjugate the people and impose an unconstitutional regime in the polity.
“The PDP salutes the courage, resilience and determination of the people of Adamawa in resisting the defeated APC and compromised REC in their bid to destabilise the state.
“Our party also lauds the Adamawa State Returning Officer, Mohammed Mele, for his courage in standing on the side of justice, due process and democracy in the discharge of his duty.”
Also, the PDP Governors Forum, in a statement by the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, CID Maduabum, said Nigeria has just been rescued from descent into the abyss, adding: “We have just dodged another bullet”.
The statement added: “We commend INEC for redeeming itself and hope that this is a harbinger of things to come.
‘It is in this regard that the Commission is requested to promptly re-visit all other elections where infractions have been identified.
“Where the matters have been taken to the Tribunal, INEC should assume a garb and toga of neutrality and inform the Tribunals of the actual events that transpired in the elections.
“It has been shown by today’s development that INEC can reverse itself where mistakes have been made. We call on Gov. Fintiri to continue to justify this huge mandate and trust of the people of Adamawa.”
