Tribunal refuses application to withdraw HDP’s case challenging Buhari’s victory

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal had dismissed an application by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) to withdraw the petition filed in the name of the party and its presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 poll, Albert Owuru.

The party and its candidate had approached the Tribunal challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress at the poll.

But a faction of the party led by Poland Tapre subsequently filed an application before the tribunal praying for the withdrawal of the party as a co-petitioner in the case on the grounds that the petition was filed in the name of the party without its consent.

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In his claims, Owuru had since been suspended from the party in August 2018, while he (Tapre) had been the National Chairman of the party.

The five-man bench of the tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba, on Thursday dismissed the application on the grounds that the faction of the party opposing the petition filed in its name failed to offer any rebuttal to the claim by Owuru that he remained the National Chairman and leader of the party.

The tribunal adjourned further pre-hearing session in respect of the petition till July 2.

The tribunal would also hear an application by the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking the dismissal of the petition.

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