Guber Polls: Drama As APC Withdraws Election Petition Against PDP In Adamawa

Emmanuel AmudaJuly 3, 2019

0 1 minute read

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa has filed a motion seeking the leave of the Adamawa State Election Petition Tribunal to withdraw the petition it filed contesting the declaration of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as the winner of the governorship election in the state.

Ex-governor Jibrilla Bindow lost the 2019 governorship contest to Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

But he declined to challenge the outcome of the elections while his party, the APC, insisted on heading to the tribunal.

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday in Yola, APC’s motion to withdraw the petition was, however, accompanied by disorder as another team of legal representatives, also for the APC, claimed it has filed a counter motion dismissing that claim.

The lead Counsel to APC, Smart Ukpanah, informed the tribunal that his client had filed a motion seeking to discontinue the case.

Aliyu Bakari, APC Vice Chairman (Adamawa Central), also announced appearance for the party alongside Smart Ukpanah.

But Eze Okoye Esq., led a team of other lawyers to also announce appearance for the APC, just like Smart Ukpanah had done.

Mohammed Adamu, APC Treasurer in the state, took side with the Okoye led legal team.

After the motion of withdrawal was mentioned, Okoye objected and told the tribunal that he has filed a counter motion on behalf of his client, the APC.

In the ensuing confusion, Justice, A A Adebara, Chairman of the tribunal, asked the opposing APC counsels to go and sort things out.

The hearing was then adjourned to July 15 to hear both the motion and the substantive matter.

Commenting on the motion after the sitting, A T Shehu, counsel to PDP said, “we have no objection about the motion seeking to withdraw the petition as filed by the petitioner.”