PDP denies withdrawal of petition challenging Tinubu’s election victory

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday dismissed reports on its withdrawal of a petition challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in last month’s election at the presidential election petition tribunal.

The PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, withdrew an application seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow their agents to participate in the sorting out ballot papers used for the election.

However, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party dismissed the claim as an outright falsehood and urged Nigerians to disregard it.

The PDP vowed to proceed with the case at the tribunal and ultimately reclaim the mandate purportedly given to its candidate in the February 25 election.

The statement read: “The said report is false and a reprehensible fabrication by the mendacious APC which is disconcerted by the overwhelming evidence against it and our tenacity to reclaim the mandate freely given to the PDP and Atiku Abubakar by Nigerians on February 25, 2023.

“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 clarifies as follows:

READ ALSO: PDP rejects Tinubu’s election victory, insists on Atiku

“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), seeking 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, 2023, across the country.

“The court directed that all parties should be put on notice and asked that we amend our Motion Exparte to Motion on Notice, to serve same on the parties (INEC, APC & Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and return on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, for hearing of our Motion on Notice.

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

“On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, our legal team 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 & Bola Ahmed 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.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now