The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, Wednesday, dismissed the petition filed by the pesidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Pastor Aminchi Habu challenging the conduct of the February 23 presidential election and declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the poll.
The petition was dismissed following its withdrawal by the petitioner and his party.
Habu’s petition said to be the most delicate and dangerous against Buhari’s election, having been predicated upon unlawful exclusion from participating in the election despite his nomination and clearance for the poll, was thrown out by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba led five-man panel in a short ruling.
Although the petition was scheduled for hearing yesterday, the petitioner however told the tribunal while withdrawing the petition, that he withdrew it to prevent Buhari from incurring expenses to defend himself.
He also said there was need to allow Buhari concentrate on the act of governance.
Besides, the PDM presidential candidate also told the tribunal that he has found an alternative means of seeking redress in his complaint against Buhari’s election.
After the motion on notice was moved by Aliyu Lemu, Buhari’s counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), counsel to the All Progressive Congress, Funke Adekoya and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yunus Usman (SAN) did not object to the withdrawal of the petition but rather said that it was a positive development.
Consequently, Tribunal chairman, Mohammed Garba, granted the application and dismissed it accordingly.
The tribunal had last week adjourned to today, Wednesday, July 24, for commencement of hearing in the PDM’s petition after dismissing a similar application filed and argued last week by the PDM’s National Chairman, Frank Igwebuike who sought to remove the PDM’s name from the petition of the Presidential Candidate
Habu and his party, PDM had in their petition number CA/PEPT/ 04/2019 filed on March 19, 2019 are seeking the nullification of the February 23 presidential poll on grounds that they were excluded from participating in the election.
They specifically alleged that the party logo was not included in the Ballot Paper used for the presidential election as required by law despite their lawful nomination and clearance by the electoral body to participate in the poll.
