ABIA: Tribunal strikes out APC petition against PDP candidate

A petition filed by the All Progressives Congress( APC) candidate for Umuahia South constituency, Mrs. Phina Kanu, against the declaration of Barrister Jerry Uzosike, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) candidate has been struck out.

The petition by the APC candidate contesting the declaration of the PDP candidate as the winner of the March 9 House of Assembly election conducted in the constituency was struck out on Monday by a three-man panel of the House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

The tribunal headed by Justice Cornelius Akintoye, chose to discontinue with the petition after the APC candidate decided to discontinue the case against the PDP contestant.

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During the sitting of the tribunal on Monday, counsel to the APC petitioner, Barrister G. Omenihu said, “My lord, a motion of notice to withdraw the petition pursuant to section 29 of the electoral act as amended. The motion was supported with six paragraphs. We are relying on the paragraphs. So, we urge the honorable tribunal to hands off the applications filed before it challenging the victory of the respondent (Uzosike)”.

Counsel to the PDP candidate and member-elect for Umuahia south constituency of Abia state, Barrister Jerry Uzosike, while reacting to the decision by the APC candidate to withdraw from the case thanked Mrs Kanu for her decision to withdraw the petition instituted against his client.

However, Mrs Kanu said she was not financially induced to withdraw her petition against the PDP candidate but she withdrew the petition based on her inability to meet up the legal fees.

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