The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has not withdrawn its petition against the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it was gathered on Wednesday.
The party, through its Legal Adviser, Shagnah Pwamadi, said the alleged withdrawal of the case, made on Tuesday, was the product of a plan by some party ‘renegades’ working with the PDP to subvert the petition filed by the party.
The petition challenged the emergence of Fintiri, following the last general election.
A section of the media reported on Tuesday that the APC had withdrawn its petition.
But, it soon became evident that only a couple of persons took the decision at a sitting of the governorship election petitions tribunal in Yola.
Reacting to the development on Wednesday, the APC legal adviser stressed that the APC never contemplated withdrawing its petition against Fintiri and the PDP.
“The PDP is using Aliyu Bakari (zonal state chairman, Central), Alhaji Saidu Naira (State Financial Secretary) and Alhaji Babangida Talasse (Mayo Belwa Local Government chairman) through Smart Ukpanah, who was handling the case at the election petition tribunal, to frustrate the case,” Pwamadi stated.
He said neither the three party leaders nor the lawyer had locus standi to withdraw the case.
“The lawyer could only withdraw from representing the party in the case if he no longer wishes to continue with it,” he asserted.
He announced that the APC National Secretariat had engaged Ibrahim Effiong and Co to take over the case from Ukpanah, “as the APC has no option than to officially disengage him and pay him off to enable the party execute the petition effectively”.