The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that the reputation of the country is at stake.
Abubakar made the statement at a world press conference on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The press conference was scheduled to address the issue of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records, which were released by the Chicago State University (CSU) earlier this week.
“The reputation of our country is at stake,” Abubakar said in the press conference. “And that affects every Nigerian, here or wherever he or she is globally.”
He added, “The constitution prescribes the requirement for those who seek position in elective offices and it should not be disrespected by anyone who seek for such offices.”
According to Atiku, elections are the foundation of democracy, and the results are not as important as the process, adding that the outcome of the last elections has put Nigeria’s reputation at global risk.
Recall that the records were released by Chicago State University on Monday in compliance with a ruling by Magistrate Jeffrey Gilbert. Tinubu had filed a review of the order, but federal judge Nancy Maldonado overruled his objections.
The CSU documents affirmed that Tinubu attended the university from August 1977 to June 1979 and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Honors on June 22, 1979. However, there are discrepancies in the documents released.
Atiku is expected to use the documents to further his election appeal at the Supreme Court. He is challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential election on the grounds of electoral fraud.