MAKURDI – Immediate past Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue on Tuesday withdrew his petition against the election of Barnabas Gemade as Senator (APC-Benue North East).
Gemade, formerly of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the All Progressives Congress to contest the seat against Suswam of the PDP.
The ex-governor had filed a petition before the National/State Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge his defeat on the grounds of malpractices.
However, when the case came up for pre-hearing, counsel to Suswam, Mr Andrew Wombo, applied orally for the withdrawal of the petition.
Wombo informed the tribunal that the petitioner was no longer interested in pursuing the case.
“My lord, Suwam, who is obviously a man of peace, has asked me to withdraw the petition in the interest of peace and harmony of the state and his constituent’’, he said.
Wombo also said his client would not want to distract the new administration with a court case which might affect smooth running of the government.
Counsel to Gemade, Mr John Igbabon, prayed the court to award N5million cost against the petitioner.
According to him, the petitioner has wasted both the time of the tribunal and that of his client.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Mosumola Dipeolu, said the respondent’s demand for compensation was baseless.
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“The petitioner has done well and I urge parties in other cases to toe the path of peace like we have seen with this case.
“In the light of this, the application sails through and it is hereby withdrawn without cost.’’ (NAN)
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