The opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has refuted media reports alleging that it has withdrawn its petition at the Presidential Election Tribunal.
Debo Ologunagba, the PDP national publicity secretary, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, describing the reports as false and reprehensible fabrication.
“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 clarify as follows:
“On Monday, March 13, 2023, the Legal Team of Atiku Abubakar led by J.K Gadzama, SAN, was in court to move a Motion ex-parte accompanied by an Affidavit of Urgency.
“The motion sought for 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 across the country,” he said.
“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 need to proceed with the hearing of the Motion on Notice. Consequently, our Team filed a Notice of Discontinuance of the said Motion.”
Ologunagba said that on Wednesday, March 15 PDP 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.
