JUST IN: Presidential poll: FG warns Atiku against resorting to self-help

The Federal Government on Thursday warned the presidential
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alh. Atiku Abubakar
against resorting to self-help over the outcome of the February 23
presidential election.

It asked Atiku to realise that the only lawful channel for
challenging the result of an election is through the courts.

The government said it was absurd that Atiku had hired a
lobbying firm to convince the United States not to recognize the
re-election of President Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled
on the suit he filed.

It said it was unfortunate that Atiku was thinking of
replicating the Venezuelan model right here in Nigeria.

The government made its position known at a briefing in Abuja by
the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, which
was attended by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

Mohammed said: “As you must have noticed in recent times,
posters bearing the picture of former Vice President and the
presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, with the
inscription: ”THE PUKKA, H.E. ATIKU ABUBAKAR, THE REAL AND THE
RIGHT”, have surfaced across major streets in Abuja.

“The appearance of these posters coincide with the media report
that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hired a US lobbying firm to convince
the United States not to recognize the re-election of President
Buhari until the Supreme Court has ruled on the suit by the PDP
presidential candidate

“The posters and the hiring of US lobbyists, the latest of such
by the PDP candidate, have triggered questions about what Alhaji
Abubakar is up to. Is he starting a fresh campaign after the
elections have been won and lost?

“Has he rescinded his decision to challenge the results of the
presidential election in court, perhaps after realizing that the
results he claimed to have obtained from the INEC back server are
cooked? Is he now going for self-help? What really is Atiku’s
motive?

“Gentlemen, we are aware of media reports that the PDP
presidential candidate on Wednesday distanced himself from the
posters that are circulating in Abuja. He also reportedly denied
hiring US lobbyists, claiming tongue-in-cheek that the APC
fabricated the report.

“If the media reports are right, it means that the former Vice
President has suddenly realized the grave implication of his
actions, hence has decided to beat a quick retreat before it is too
late.

“As a self-avowed democrat, he should realize that the only
lawful channel for challenging the result of an election is through
the courts. Resorting to self-help, as he seems to be doing now, is
an act of desperation and the consequences are dire.

…Details shortly