Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its presidential candidate, have withdrawn a fresh application they filed to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to allow their agents to participate in the process of sorting out ballot papers that were used for the presidential election that held on February 25.
Both PDP and Atiku, who are separately challenging the outcome of the election, told the Presidential Election Petition Court that they were no longer interested in the application and have filed a notice of discontinuance.
According to sources, the decision of Atiku to withdraw the application was as a result of a meeting his legal team held with the leadership of the electoral body on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
He said they filed the application owing to challenges and administrative bottlenecks they encountered at the INEC office when they went for access to the election materials as ordered by the court.
It was at that meeting which held on Tuesday that all the grey areas were sorted out with INEC, pledging to allow their agents, observe the process of sorting out some of the electoral materials they requested for, especially the ballot papers.
He added that since it was primarily their prayer in the fresh application filed, they felt that it would not be necessary to proceed with the hearing.
Meanwhile, following the withdrawal of the application, the Justice Joseph Ikyegh-led three-member panel struck it out.
Atiku had in the withdrawn application, which he predicated on 11 grounds, maintained that it was necessary for agents of his party to be present during the sorting out of the electoral materials he would need to prepare a petition he intends to lodge against the outcome of the presidential election.
He said there was need for his agents to observe and participate in the sorting of materials he requested for in all the offices of INEC nationwide, in line with the ex-parte order the court made on March 3.
Atiku argued that allowing the agents of his party to be on ground while the materials are sorted out, would ensure transparency in the process and guarantee that the ballot papers would not be tampered with.
Christian Association Of Nigeria Urges Tinubu, Atiku, Obi To Accept Election Results
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has told all the political parties and their candidates that they must be ready to accept the outcome of the presidential and other elections even when such results do not favour them.
CAN also be insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must put every necessary measure in place at this point to give Nigerians a credible, free, and fair poll.
CAN said this in a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, and made available to reporters in Abuja on Friday, February 10, 2023.
CAN made it clear that election is not war and should be seen as a period of peaceful transition of power.
On security, the Christian body called on the authorities to put the necessary machinery in place, especially in communities vulnerable to attacks, and ensure that no citizen is disfranchised owing to the precarious security situation in parts of the country.
“[We] call on all the political parties and candidates seeking elective positions during the forthcoming general elections to accept the results of the polls in good faith in the interest of Nigerians and the unity of the country,” CAN stated.
Source: ChannelsTV
