Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Port Harcourt has struck out the petition of the Social Democratic Party SDP candidate for the Rivers State Senatorial District Dighobo Obaghama challenging the victory of Senator Betty Apiafi of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.
The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC had declared Senator Betty Apiafi winner of the Rivers West Senatorial district during the February 23rd Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal struck out the case on Friday 27th September 2019 after SDP candidate for the Rivers State Senatorial District Dighobo Obaghama applied to withdraw his petition at the tribunal.
The counsel to the second petitioner in the matter, SDP, Somina Elekima also supported the application for the withdrawal of the matter.
He asked the tribunal to consolidate the final written addresses of both the first petitioner Dighobo Obaghama and the second petitioner, SDP, as they have similar prayers in their motion.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice G.K. Kaigama after considering the applications of the first and second petitioners struck out the case.
Justice G.K. Kaigama while ruling on the matter said the parties should bear their own cost.
Speaking to newsmen outside the court, Collin Dike the lawyer to Dighobo Obaghama said he withdrew the case based on the instructions from his client.
Collins Dike also said that the case was withdrawn based on the personal decision of his clients and political considerations.
The lawyer of the second petitioner, SDP, Somina Elekima said the petitioners withdrew the matter after their candidate Dighobo Obaghama decided to withdraw from the matter.
Elekima while addressing journalist said that all the parties are happy with the outcome of the tribunal decision.
He also congratulated the Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Betty Apiafi on her victory.
