The Rivers state Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt has dismissed the petition of the Labour Party and its Candidate, Isaac Wonwu against the victory of Governor Nyesom Wike.
Lead Judge of the Tribunal, Justice G.K Kaigama granted the order following an application by Counsel to the Labour Party, Uche Olewunne who applied for the withdrawal of the petition and that the petition of Wonwu be struck out.
All the lawyers in the matter did not oppose the application of the Labour Party to withdraw from the Tribunal.
Counsel to the Labour Party, Uche Olewunne in an interview with newsmen spoke on the decision of his clients to withdraw their petition.
According to him, “My clients decided to work in synergy with the Governor, so they will like to let the petition go. That was what we came for and the court in its wisdom has granted that.
“Election petition is suit generic, unlike other civil matters that you can bring back. In this case, you can’t resurrect the matter.
“So, at this point, it is goodbye to the Elections petition tribunal.”
In the same vein, the three-man Election Petition Tribunal has also dismissed the petition of the Peoples Progressive Party, PPP against the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Governor Nyesom Wike and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The petition of PPP was dismissed following an application for withdrawal by the party.
Counsel to PPP, Chibuzor Ezike who is also the National Legal Adviser of the party, told newsmen outside the court that his party after due consultation decided to withdraw the petition for the interest of Rivers State.
Ezike also dismissed insinuations that the withdrawal was linked to monetary inducement.
Also Speaking, Counsel to INEC, Abdulakeem Mustapha who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria spoke on why he opted for the dismissal of the matter instead of striking out as sought by the Labour Party as stated in the Electoral act.
“We filed a notice of preliminary objection that the petition be dismissed that it lacks merit and it is not in compliance with the Electoral Act of 2010 as Amended.
“Based on that, the parties came up and decided to withdraw,” Mustapha said.
