Ohanaeze reacted in a statement issued on Thursday evening through its Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has broken its silence following the decision of the Supreme Court to affirm the election of President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the apex court had on Thursday dismissed the petitions brought before it by candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), on the ground that they lacked merit and could not be taken as a basis to annul the presidential election.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s judgement, Ohanaeze, in a statement issued on Thursday evening through its Secretary General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, urged the aggrieved presidential candidates to accept the court’s ruling and congratulate the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
The Igbo group said the court’s verdict was in the interest of the country’s unity and that Obi and Atiku should give their maximum support and encouragement to the current effort of the President Tinubu-led administration to raise the bar of governance in the country through the implementation of impactful economic policies.
Ohanaeze noted that the momentous decision from the highest court in the land officially brings the closure of litigation necessitated by the outcome of the concluded February 25, 2023, presidential election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The pan-Igbo organisation commended the jurists for their diligent examination and fair judgment in the post-election lawsuits.
“The verdict reinforces the credibility and integrity of our democratic institutions and, as well, highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law and the will of the people.
“In light of this outcome, Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls upon the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Mr Peter Obi of the LP to emulate the historic gesture of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who congratulated and supported the immediate past Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, after the 2015 election.
“We urge them to reach out to their main political opponent in the 2023 election, President Tinubu, and extend their congratulations on his victory in the Supreme Court.
“This gesture of sportsmanship and magnanimity is crucial in fostering unity, healing divisions, and setting a positive example for their supporters,” the statement read.
Ohanaeze congratulated President Tinubu on the reaffirmation of his victory and urged him to exhibit magnanimity in victory.
Recall that Obi and Atiku, in separate suits, had approached the apex court to appeal the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that had earlier upheld Tinubu’s victory at the polls.
However, the duo were again defeated today at the Supreme Court.