Enugu APC candidate withdraws petition from tribunal

The All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate forEnugu North/South federal constituency, Mr Nelson Maduka Arum, Wednesday, sought a leave of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for the withdrawal of his petition.

Arum had dragged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hon Offor Chukwuegbo, to the tribunal seeking the nullification of his victory.

It could be recalled that the tribunal, on the request of the petitioners, had Tuesday, adjourned for till Wednesday to enable Arum and the APC open and close their case.

But when the matter was called up, Arum’s counsel Mr Patrick Luke told the tribunal that they were no longer interested in continuing the case.

Although he did not give any reason, he said he was acting under the instruction of the petitioners.

“We have application to make; we are applying for leave of this honourable tribunal to withdraw the instant petition.

“We have the consent of the petitioners to make this application. We rely on Paragraph 29 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act in making this application.”

This did not go down well with the respondents as they both opposed the application, arguing that the petitioners were taking the tribunal for a ride.

Instead, A.J. Offiah, (SAN) counsel for first respondent and Tochukwu Odoh, counsel for second respondent, asked for judgment and dismissal of the petition.

In its ruling, the tribunal chairman, Hon Justice Kerang said the respondents failed to tell the tribunal any injury they would suffer if the application to move the motion for withdrawal of the petition was granted.

“We accede to the petitioners’ application,” the Tribunal ruled.

Leave a Reply