The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chapel has declared a one-week fasting and prayer for its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to come out victorious at the Presidential Election Tribunal, which started a few days ago. The prayers will begin on Thursday, May 18, and end on Wednesday, May 24. The PDP National Secretariat located at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, will host the events, which include the fasting and prayer sessions as well as an ‘overcomer’s open-air thanksgiving service’ on May 25.
Atiku and the PDP are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) declaration of Bola Tinubu, the President-elect of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the presidential election in the petition marked CA/PEPC/05/2023. The pre-hearing of the petition started on Thursday, May 18, after Chris Uche (SAN), counsel for Atiku and PDP, expressed interest in the matter. The petition lists the INEC, Tinubu, and the APC as the first to third respondents.
Boni Haruna, the Chairman of the PDP Christian Religious Body, Presidential Campaign Council, announced the seven-day fast, which he tagged "At the Supreme Court of Heaven with Chief Justice of Universe." The prayer is to "denounce the Independent National Electoral Commission's president-select and rescue and recover PDP for Nigeria." The prayer will draw its text from Romans 8:33, Psalms 84:10-11, Proverbs 24:25-26; 9:7-8.
The PDP is seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election in court, claiming that it was rigged in favor of Tinubu and the APC. The party claims that the election was marred by irregularities and that the INEC colluded with the APC to deny Atiku his rightful victory. The PDP also claims that Tinubu was not qualified to contest in the election in the first place.
The PDP's decision to embark on a week-long fasting and prayer program is part of the party's efforts to ensure that justice is served in the election tribunal. The party hopes that the program will help to sway the tribunal in Atiku's favor and that the will of the people will be respected.