Enugu APC candidate withdraws his petition from tribunal.

Advertising

The Enugu State candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the National Assembly election for Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Mr. Nelson Maduka Arum, on Wednesday, sought a leave of the Tribunal for the withdrawal of his petition.

There are reports that Arum had dragged the current occupier of the office, Hon. Offor Chukwuegbo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Tribunal, seeking the nullification of his victory.

Advertising

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

However, 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 literally didn’t give a reason for it, 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.

Advertising

“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 1st respondent and Tochukwu Odoh, counsel for 2nd respondent, asked for judgement 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.

Advertising

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

More to come…

Advertising

Thanks for Reading

Enjoyed this post? Share it with your networks.