APGA guber candidate, Nweke withdraws petition against Peter Mbah in Enugu

By Musa Baba Adamu

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 18th March 2023 governorship election in Enugu State, Frank Nweke jnr, has withdrawn his petition against Governor Peter Mbah of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The withdrawal came on a day Labour party and the governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga closed their case in their petition against Mbah and PDP.
Also, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, who was supeoned by the Court, also appeared today to give evidence. He was represented by the commission’s public relations officer.
Nweke, who came third in the governorship election, announced the withdrawal of his petition at the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Sunday, through an oral application by his counsel, R.A.C.E Achara.
Achara said it became imperative to withdraw the petition so as to reduce the workload of the tribunal. The tribunal granted the application and dismissed the petition accordingly.
Confirming the withdrawal, Frank Nweke Jr., said he decided to withdraw the petition against Mbah for personal reasons.
Meanwhile, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, who was in court following the subpoena served on him, produced specific BVAS machines used during the election in some isolated areas.
He insisted during cross-examination that the election was free, fair, and credible.
Represented by the Public Relations Officer of the Commission in Enugu, Victor Ezeokafor, he also stated that the Commission gave certified True Copies of electoral documents requested by Labour Party. He said those that were not released were those they did not pray for.
The electoral body also brought some BVAS machines as ordered by the court.
Reminded by that based on the last page of the subpoena, Exhibit 60, INEC was mandated to produce the BVAS machines in 15 polling units, he said, “according to the list in the subpoena, we were mandated to produce five BVAS, and I am here with the five BVAS”.