Vice President Kashim Shettima expressed his approval of the final verdict in the 2023 presidential election tribunal on Wednesday. He extended an invitation to the opposition candidates to join forces with the Bola Tinubu government in the pursuit of a rejuvenated Nigeria.

This commendation came shortly after the unanimous decision by the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) to uphold President Bola Tinubu as the victor of the February 25, 2023, presidential election. During this ruling, all five Justices on the tribunal individually dismissed the petitions contesting Tinubu's election as President, which had been announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 1, 2023, citing a lack of merit.

Addressing the press after the ruling, Shettima encouraged the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, to engage in collaboration with the Tinubu administration.

“On behalf of my principal, I wish to call on Wazirin Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar, and Mr. Peter Obi, my very good friend, to join hands with us to build a new Nigeria,” he said.

Shettima, who represented Tinubu at the tribunal, also urged the opponents to bury the hatchet and work for the common goal of nation-building.⁣

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He added, “This is a time for unity. It is for us to sheath the sword and work for the greatness of our nation.”⁣⁣