The Action Peoples Party (APP) on Wednesday withdrew its petition challenging the emergence of Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the President -elect in the 2023 Presidential election.

This brings to two, the number of petitions that have been withdrawn. The Action Alliance(AA) had on Monday, this week, through its counsel, Oba Maduabuchi – Ume SAN moved a motion for the withdrawal of their petition which was subsequently struck -out.

The party,(APP) through its counsel, Obed Agu, informed the court about the motion on notice dated and filed on the 9th of May, indicating the party’s intention to withdraw the suit number CA/PEPC/02/2023, pursuant to paragraph 29, sub section 1, 2, 3, 4 of schedule election petition.

He prayed for an order of the court, granting the withdrawal of the petition. The respondents in the petition did not object to the withdrawal.

Reacting to the development, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, lead counsel to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu said :’We commend the petitioner for the motion to strike out the petition and hope that more will still come’.

On their part, Counsel to APC, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), A. B. Mahmoud, SAN, also did not object to the withdrawal.

In a short ruling, the Tribunal held: “Having considered the application, we are satisfied that there was no collision on the part of the respondents. The petition is hereby dismissed, having been withdrawn”, the court held.

Meanwhile, The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal also on Wednesday directed parties in the Peter Obi/Labour Party petition to streamline issues to be determined in the petition and harmonise filing and exchange of processes before Wednesday next week.

Presiding Judge, Justice Haruna Tsammani gave the directive after listening to Dr Levi Uzoukwu (SAN) counsel to Mr. Peter Obi who informed the tribunal that he and counsels to all the respondents (INEC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had agreed to exchange all processes before Tuesday next week.

He said all the parties agreed to request for a week adjournment and to come to Court on Wednesday with the believe that all the processes are ripe for adoption.

Mr. A.B Mahmoud SAN, counsel to INEC, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN lead counsel to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima and Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN all confirmed that it was a unanimous decision.

Justice Tsammani thereafter adjourned the hearing of the petition to Wednesday May 17th, 2023.

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Meanwhile, The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal also on Wednesday directed parties in the Peter Obi / Labour Party petition to streamline issues to be determined in the petition and harmonise filing and exchange of processes before Wednesday next week.

Presiding Judge, Justice Haruna Tsammani gave the directive after listening to Dr Levi Uzoukwu (SAN) counsel to Mr. Peter Obi who informed the tribunal that he and counsels to all the respondents (INEC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had agreed to exchange all processes before Tuesday next week.

He said all the parties agreed to request for a week adjounment and to come to Court on Wednesday with the believe that all the processes are ripe for adoption.

Mr.AB Mahmoud SAN, counsel to INEC,Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN lead counsel to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima and Chief Lateef Fagbemi SAN all confirmed that it was a unanimous decision.

Justice Tsammani thereafter adjourned the hearing of the petition to Wednesday May 17th, 2023.