Tribunal dismisses HDP faction’s bid to withdraw petition against Buhari

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday dismissed an application by a faction of the Hope Democratic Party to withdraw the petition filed in the name of the party and its presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 poll, Albert Owuru.

Owuru and the HDP had jointly filed a petition before the tribunal to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress at the poll.

But a faction of the party led by Poland Tapre subsequently filed an application before the tribunal praying for the withdrawal of the party as a co-petitioner in the case on the grounds that the petition was filed in the name of the party without its consent.

The faction claimed that Owuru had since been suspended from the party in August 2018, and Tapre had been the National Chairman of the party.

The application was opposed by Owuru’s legal team.

Ruling on Thursday, the five-man bench of the tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed the application on the grounds that the faction of the party opposing the petition filed in its name failed to offer any rebuttal to the claim by Owuru that he remained the National Chairman and leader of the party.

The tribunal adjourned further pre-hearing session in respect of the petition till July 2.

The tribunal will that day hear an application by the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking the dismissal of the petition.