Presidential election: PDP, Atiku deny withdrawing petition from tribunal

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked reports that the party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have withdrawn the petition filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

The PDP, in statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the reports as false and reprehensible fabrication.

“The PDP states in clear terms that our party and Atiku Abubakar did not withdraw our petition against INEC, APC, and Tinubu at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

“However, to set the record straight and for the benefit of our teeming members, supporters and the general public, the PDP clarify as follows;

“On Monday, March 13, 2023, the legal team of Atiku Abubakar led by J.K Gadzama, SAN, was in court to move a Motion Exparte accompanied by an Affidavit of Urgency (CA/PEC/12M/2023).

“The motion sought for orders directing INEC to allow us observe/participate in the process of sorting out the ballot papers used for the Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections conducted on February 25 across the country,” Ologunagba stated.

He added that the court directed that all parties should be put on notice and asked that PDP amend its Motion Exparte to Motion on Notice to serve same on the parties (INEC, APC, and Tinubu) and return on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, for hearing of the PDP’s Motion on Notice.

“On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, our legal team had a conference meeting with the legal team of INEC.

“The commission gave its assurance to cooperate with our team during the inspection and sorting out of ballot papers, and to also provide election materials needed to file our petition.

“On account of this agreement with and assurance by INEC, there was no longer need to proceed with the hearing of the Motion on Notice (CA/PEPC/13M/2023). Consequently, our team filed a Notice of Discontinuance of the said Motion,” the PDP spokesman noted.

Ologunagba said the PDP legal team, on Wednesday, March 15, returned to court to inform the court of the resolution reached with INEC and formally discontinued the Motion on Notice against all the parties (INEC, APC, and Tinubu).

“The PDP is therefore on course and we are determined to pursue the case to its logical conclusion, which is the retrieval of our Presidential mandate at the Tribunal,” he added.

The Star

Segun Ojo