The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its gubernatorial candidate at the April 11 gubernatorial election in Katsina State, Musa Nashuni, has filed an application before the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Katsina, seeking to withdraw its petition.
Nashuni and the PDP had filed a petition before the tribunal challenging the election of Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on the grounds of electoral malpractices and alleged fake certificate.
Although hearing of the petition was set to commence, Nashuni through his lawyer, George Ogunyomi, applied for withdrawal of the petition, citing alleged frustration by INEC as his reason for the action.
At the resumed sitting yesterday, both Nashuni and PDP through their lawyers “urged the tribunal to graciously grant the application”.
Responding to the application, the lead lawyer to Governor Masari, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said although the motion for withdrawal was packaged in a manner that concealed the real purpose of the withdrawal, he had no objection.
Lawyer to INEC, Hassan Liman, who also informed the court that they had no objection to the application, faulted the petitioners for alleging that INEC frustrated them.
The tribunal chairman, Justice Garba Ali, adjourned to September 18 for ruling on the application.
Justice Liman said,“We hold that the reason for the withdrawal is not that INEC frustrated the petitioners but because they are no longer interested in prosecuting the petition.”
Source:Leadership
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