In their determination to douse political tension in Nigeria, members of the National Peace Committee late Thursday met with Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential Candidate in last Saturday presidential election.
The meeting which held behind closed doors at the Asokoro residence of Atiku in Abuja, had in attendance a former head of state and Chairman of the National Peace Committee Abdusalami Abubakar (retired); Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah and other members of the committee.
It came barely 24 hours after Atiku’s rejection of the Presidential election.
It was gathered that at the meeting, Atiku maintained that the exercise was characterised with irregularities including militarisation of the process, manipulation of figures and disruption of the election in PDP strongholds.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Absulsalami Abubakar said the mission of committee is to douse the tension, following the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23 election.
Others at the meeting include Atiku’s running mate, Peter Obi; Senate President Bukola Saraki; PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus; Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara among others.
Prominent Nigerians and organisations that have advised Atiku against approaching the court, but to accept the outcome in faith include Olisa Agbakoba (Senior Advocate of Nigeria); former Information Minister, Tony Momoh; Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) among others.
In a keenly contested contest, Atiku lost the presidential election to incumbent President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari had polled 15,191,847 votes, ahead of Atiku’s 11,262,978, to be declared the winner of the election by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
