The Imo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Owerri has granted the request of Action Alliance, AA, to withdraw from the petition filed by its governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.
The party had, in a letter dated May 27, 2019, and signed by its Legal Adviser, Anaukyaa Peter, requested its counsel, Okey Ehieze, to discontinue his appearance in the suit no: EPT/OW/GOV/IM/02/2019, in which AA is the second petitioner.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Michael Adewara, Monday, said that the Tribunal has no option but to grant the request of the petitioner.
The Tribunal, however, rejected the request of the respondents, Emeka Ihedioha and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to have the case struck off.
But Nwosu in reaction said that he was not perturbed by the ruling.
In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity Ugwumba Uche Nwosu Campaign Organization, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the AA guber candidate said that as disappointing as this decision was, he assured his supporters that there was absolutely no cause for alarm, as the ruling has in no way vitiated the credibility of the petition.
Nwosu maintained that he was the undisputed winner of that election, and expressed optimism that the learned justices would serve justice by declaring him the winner of that election.
He said, “We are not unaware of the jubilation going on in the camp of the PDP, and the suspicious interest they have shown in this matter. While we sympathize with Imolites over the possible squandering of our commonwealth to procure individuals and accessories, that may help them perpetuate their illegal reign, we encourage all Imolites of goodwill to remain steadfast and firm, as the best news for Imolites is yet ahead.
We are also delighted to inform Imolites that attempts by the PDP and Chief Ihedioha to prevail on the tribunal to strike off our matter was resisted by the learned justices. With this development, His Excellency Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is still very much on course to retrieve his mandate from the thieving locusts,” he added.
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