The Social Democratic Party (SDP) says it has accepted the result of the Saturday presidential election, declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Party’s National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, stated this at press conference on the outcome of the presidential election, in Abuja on Thursday.
Gabam said in spite of the challenges witnessed during the election, SDP stood by the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the president-elect by INEC.
He noted that the election has its challenges including the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the uploading of election results on INEC Result Viewing Portal.
He therefore advised candidates and other aggrieved parties to seek redress peacefully and legally.
He commended INEC, for pulling through in the face of all odds, urging it to perfect its system before the March 11 governorship and house of assembly elections.
The SDP called on the political class and the general public to eschew violence in their actions and pronouncements.
It added that they should in practical terms and manifestly, work for peace and social order in the larger interest of our country.
Gabam advised the judiciary to be fair to all political parties and candidates that would be seeking redress on the election.
Gabam said the SDP came sixth in the presidential election, and won two senatorial and four House of Representatives seats.
He said that, while the party would not challenge the presidential election in court, it would however challenge the national assembly elections in places it believed the SDP won.
He pledged the party’s continued support for its candidates in the state elections, expressing confidence that SDP would win some governorship and state Houses of Assembly seats.
Gabam said that SDP was not party to any protests on the 2023 general elections and has not issued any directives in that respect because it believes in the peace and oneness of Nigeria.
He however said every party has the right to protest, while reiterating that they are not party to any protest.