Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the election results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Abubakar kicked against the election process which he said was “heavily militarised” and results manipulated.
He was defeated by President Muhammadu Buhari with over three million votes.
But in a statement he issued personally on Wednesday morning, the former vice-president said he will be challenging the election in court.
He said: “If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.
“However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019. 2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.
“Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.”
