Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has denied a statement in circulation that he planned to lead a protest over INEC Server, describing the statement as the handiwork of mischief makers to mar his spotless pro-democratic record and lay the groundwork on false charges against him.
Atiku made this refutation in a statement issued on Sunday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe.
Part of the statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement circulating in a section of the media, to the effect that Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of PDP in the 2019 presidential election and Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007, plans to lead a street protest in the event that the election petition tribunal rules against his him and his party on the issue of a server for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“I wish to emphatically state that such a statement did not emanate from Atiku Abubakar or his privies. It is the work of mischief makers who want to mar his spotless pro-democratic record and lay the ground work for their threatened actions against him on false charges of being a threat to national security.”
The statement added that for the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar believes in the Rule of Law and in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that in his almost four decades in politics, he has never taken action or spoken words against democracy and will not start now.
“Atiku Abubakar and his team have confidence in God and thus call on those bent on mischief to have the fear of God and retrace their steps. Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. The culture of fear being created now cannot rein in our democracy. Nigeria and Nigerians have a consistent history of outlasting tyranny and will continue to do so by the grace of God,” the statement added.
By Innocent Odoh, Abuja
