TheCable

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has inaugurated the legal team to challenge the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

The former vice-president briefed the team at his campaign headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

He mandated them to “establish the claim of illegality in the February 25 presidential election and reclaim the mandate of the Nigerian people”.

The team, which is headed by JK Gadzama, comprises 19 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

In a statement released by his media office, Atiku was quoted saying that “apart from reclaiming the mandate from those who undertook the electoral heist that was not a reflection of the will of Nigerians, the legal team should also use the opportunity of the trial to strengthen constitutional democracy in the country”.

Atiku also said it is “imperative that they work assiduously in reclaiming the mandate not necessarily because of him and the PDP, but to strengthen democracy and the electoral process and for generations unborn”.

“The members of the team include Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), Tayo Jegede (SAN), Ken Mozia (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mahmood Magaji (SAN), Joe Abraham (SAN), Mr Chukwuma Umeh (SAN), Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) and Chief Emeka Etiaba (SAN),” the statement said.

“Others are Chief Goddy Uche (SAN), Prof. Maxwell Gidado (SAN); the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, A. K. Ajibade (SAN), Mr. O. M. Atoyebi, (SAN), Mrs. Nella Rabana (SAN), Paul Ogbole (SAN), Nuremi Jimoh (SAN), and Abdul Ibrahim (SAN).”

Peter Obi, the standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP), is also challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election.

Tinubu, the president-elect, on Tuesday constituted his legal team to defend his mandate.