PDP opts out of Edo election petition

Nigeria’s ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has called on Edo Election Petition Tribunal to strike out its name from the petition by its candidate, challenging the outcome of the July 14 governorship polls.

The Motion of Notice was displayed on the tribunal’s notice board in Benin on Saturday, according to NAN.

The motion, which was filed and signed by Bimbo Okoduwa, was supported with a 13-paragraph affidavit.

The PDP governorship candidate, retired Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, filed the petition, challenging Gov. Adams Oshiomhole’s victory in the governorship election.

In the petition, Airhiavbere claimed that the “purported election was invalid due to corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010’’.

In the notice, however, the PDP is asking for a permission to argue the motion outside the pre-hearing session.

The party is also seeking an order striking out its name from the petition No. EPT/ED/G/01/2012 “on the grounds that PDP is not desirous of prosecuting and or maintaining the said petition’’.

The party had earlier filed a notice of change of counsel before the tribunal and also given indication that it was not interested in challenging Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s decisive victory. Oshiomhole belongs to the Action Congress Party of Nigeria.